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THE 



CONFESSION OF FAITH ; 

THE 

LARGER AND SHORTER CATECHISMS, ^ 

WITH THE 

SCEIPTUEE PEOOFS AT LAEGE : 

TOGETHER WITH 

THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE, 

(contained in the holt scriptures, and held forth in the said confession 
and catechisms,) and practical use thereof ; 



COVENANTS, NATIONAL AND SOLEMN LEAGUE ; 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SINS, AND ENGAGEMENT TO 
DUTIES ; 

DIRECTORIES FOR PUBLICS AND FAMILY WORSHIP J 



FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT, ETC. 

OF PUBLICK. AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND ; 
WITH ACTS OF ASSEMBLY AND PARLIAMENT, RELATIVE 
TO, AND APPRO BATIVE OF, THE SAME. 



Deut. vi. 6, 7.— And these words which 1 command thee this day shall be in thine heart : and thou shalt 
teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and 
when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 




EDINBURGH: 
JOHNSTONE AND HUNTER. 

M.DCCC.LV. 



LICENCE. 



In terms of Her Majesty's Letters Patent to her Printers for Scotland, and of the 
Instructions issued by her Majesty in Council, dated eleventh July Eighteen hundred 
and thirty-nine, I hereby License and Authorize Johnstone and Hunter, Printers and 
Publishers in Edinburgh, to print within the premises situated One hundred and four 
High Street, Edinburgh, and to publish, as by the Authority of her Majesty, an Edition 
of the Confession of Eaith, in Pica, Longprimer, and Brevier Type, octavo size, to con- 
sist of Seven Hundred and Fifty Copies, as proposed in their Declaration, dated the 
thirteenth day of April Eighteen hundred and fifty -five years ; the terms and conditions 
of the said Instructions being always, and in all points, fully complied with and observed 
by the said Johnstone and Hunter. 

J. MONCREIFP. 

London, 2d May 1855. 



TO THE 



CHRISTIAN READER, 

ESPECIALLY 

HEADS OE FAMILIES. 



AS we cannot but with grief of soul lament those multitudes of errors, 
blasphemies, and all kinds of profaneness, which have in this last 
age, like a mighty deluge, overflown this nation ; so, among several other 
sins which have helped to open the flood-gates of all these impieties, we 
cannot but esteem the disuse of family instruction one of the greatest. 
The two great pillars upon which the kingdom of Satan is erected, and 
by which it is upheld, are ignorance and error ; the first step of our manu- 
mission from this spiritual thraldom consists in having our eyes opened, and 
being turned from darkness to light, Acts xxvi. 18. How much the serious 
endeavours of godly parents and masters might contribute to an early 
seasoning the tender years of such as are under their inspection, is abun- 
dantly evident, not only from their special influence upon them, in respect 
of their authority over them, interest in them, continual presence with 
them, and frequent opportunities of being helpful to them ; but also from 
the sad effects which, by woeful experience, we find to be the fruit of the 
omission of this duty. It were easy to set before you a cloud of witnesses, 
the language of whose practice hath been not only an eminent commen- 
dation of this duty, but also a serious exhortation to it. As Abel, though 
dead, yet speaks by his example to us for imitation of his faith, &c, Heb. 
xi. 4; so do the examples of Abraham, of Joshua, of the parents of Solo- 
mon, of the grandmother and mother of Timothy, the mother of Augus- 
tine, whose care was as well to nurse up the souls as the bodies of their 
little ones ; and as their pains herein was great, so was their success no way 
unanswerable. 

We should scarce imagine it any better than an impertinency, in this 
noon-day of the gospel, either to inform or persuade in a duty so expressly 
commanded, so frequently urged, so highly encouraged, and so eminently 
owned by the Lord in all ages with his blessing, but that our sad experi- 
ence tells us, this duty is not more needful, than it is of late neglected. 
For the restoring of this duty to its due observance, give us leave to sug- 
gest this double advice. 

The first concerns heads of families in respect of themselves ; That as 
the Lord hath set them in place above the rest of their family, they would 
labour in all wisdom and spiritual understanding to be above them also. 
It is an uncomely sight to behold men in years babes in knowledge ; and ' 
how unmeet are they to instruct others, who need themselves to be taught 
which be the first principles of the oracles of God, Heb. v. 12. Knowledge 



4 



THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 



is an accomplishment so desirable, that the devils themselves knew not a 

x more taking bait by which to tempt our first parents, than by the fruit of 
the tree of knowledge ; So shall you be as gods, knowing good and evil. 
When Solomon had that favour shewed him of the Lord, that he was made 
his own chuser what to ask, he knew no greater mercy to beg than wis- 
dom, 1 Kings iii. 5, 9. The understanding is the guide and pilot of the 
whole man, that faculty which sits at the stern of the soul : but as the 
most expert guide may mistake in the dark, so may the understanding, 

. when it wants the light of knowledge : Without knoioledge the mind cannot 
be good, Prov. xix. 2 ; nor the life good, nor the eternal condition safe, 
Eph. iv. 18. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos. iv. 6. 
It is ordinary in scripture to set profaneness, and all kind of miscarriages, 
upon the score of ignorance. Diseases in the body have many times their 
rise from distempers in the head, and exorbitancies in practice from errors 
in judgment: and indeed in every sin there is something both of ignorance 
and error at the bottom: for, did sinners truly know what they do in sin- 
ning, we might say of every sin what the Apostle speaks concerning that 
great sin, Had they known him, they would not have crucified the Lord of 
glory; did they truly know that every sin is a provoking the Lord to 
jealousy, a proclaiming war against Heaven, a crucifying the Lord Jesus 
afresh, a treasuring up wrath unto themselves against the day of wrath ; and 
that, if ever they be pardoned, it must be at no lower a rate than the price 
of his blood ; it were scarce possible but sin, instead of alluring, should 
affright, and instead of tempting, scare. It is one of the arch devices and 
principal methods of Satan to deceive men into sin: thus he prevailed 
against our first parents, not as a lion, but as a serpent, acting his enmity 
under a pretence of friendship, and tempting them to evil under an ap- 
pearance of good; and thus hath he all along carried on his designs of 
darkness, by transforming himself into an angel of light, making poor de- 
ceived men in love with their miseries, and hug their own destruction. 
A most sovereign antidote against all kind of errors, is to be grounded and 
settled in the faith : persons unfixed in the true religion, are very receptive 
* of a false ; and they who are nothing in spiritual knowledge, are easily made 
any thing. Clouds without water are driven to and fro icith every wind, and 
ships without ballast liable to the violence of every tempest. But yet the 
knowledge we especially commend, is not a brain-knowledge, a mere specu- 
lation ; this may be in the worst of men, nay, in the worst of creatures, 

> the devils themselves, and that in such an eminency, as the best of saints 
cannot attain to in this life of imperfection ; but an inward, a savoury, an 
heart knowledge, such as was in that martyr, who, though she could not 

s dispute for Christ, could die for him. This is that spiritual sense and feel- 
ing of divine truths the Apostle speaks of, Heb. v. 14, Having your senses 
exercised, &c. 

But, alas, we may say of most men's religion what learned Rivet* speaks 
concerning the errors of the fathers, " They were not so much their own 
*" errors, as the errors of the times wherein they lived." Thus do most men 
take up their religion upon no better an account than Turks and Papists 
take up theirs, because it is the religion of tlie times and places wherein 
they live; and what they take up thus slightly, they lay down as easily. 
Whereas an inward taste and relish of the things of God, is an excellent 
preservative to keep us settled in the most unsettled times. Corrupt and 



* Rivet. Crit. Sacr. 



THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 



5 



unsavoury principles have great advantage upon us, above those that are 
spiritual and sound ; the former being suitable to corrupt nature, the latter 
contrary; the former springing up of themselves, the latter brought forth 
not without a painful industry. The ground needs no other midwifery 
in bringing forth weeds than only the neglect of the husbandman's hand 
to pluck them up ; the air needs no other cause of darkness than the ab- 
sence of the sun; nor water of coldness than its distance from the fire; 
because these are the genuine products of nature. Were it so with the 
soul, (as some of the philosophers have vainly imagined,) to come into the 
world as an dbrasa tabula, a mere blank or piece of white paper, on which v 
neither any thing is written, nor any blots, it would then be equally re- 
ceptive of good and evil, and no more averse to the one than to the other : 
but how much worse its condition indeed is, were scripture silent, every 
man's experience does evidently manifest. For who is there that knows 
any thing of his own heart, and knows not thus much, that the suggestions 
of Satan have so easy and free admittance into our hearts, that our utmost 
watchfulness is too little to guard us from them 1 whereas the motions of 
God's Spirit are so unacceptable to us, that our utmost diligence is too 
little to get our hearts open to entertain them. Let therefore the excel- 
lency, necessity, difficulty of true wisdom stir up endeavours in you some- 
what proportionable to such an accomplishment; Above all getting, get under- 
standing, Prov. iv. 7 ; and search for wisdom as for hidden treasures, Prov. 
ii. 4. It much concerns you in respect of yourselves. 

Our second advice concerns heads of families, in respect of their families. 
Whatever hath been said already, though it concerns every private Chris- 
tian that hath a soul to look after ; yet, upon a double account, it concerns 
parents and masters, as having themselves and others to look after: some 
there are, who, because of their ignorance, cannot; others, because of their 
sluggishness, will not mind this duty. To the former we propound the 
method of J oshua, who first began with himself, and then is careful of his 
family. To the latter we shall only hint, what a dreadful meeting those 
parents and masters must have at that great day, with their children and 
servants, when all that were under their inspection shall not only accuse 
them, but charge their eternal miscarrying upon their score. 

Never did any age of the Church enjoy such choice helps as this of ours. 
Every age of the gospel hath had its Creeds, Confessions, Catechisms, and 
such breviaries and models of divinity as have been singularly useful. Such 
forms of sound words (however in these days decried) have been in use in 
the Church ever since God himself wrote the Decalogue, as a summary of ' 
things to be done; and Christ taught us that prayer of his, as a directory 
what to ask. Concerning the usefulness of such compendiary systems, so 
much hath been said already by a learned divine* of this age, as is suffi- 
cient to satisfy all who are not resolved to remain unsatisfied. 

Concerning the particular excellency of these ensuing treatises, we judge 
it unneedful to mention those eminent testimonies which have been given 
them from persons of known worth, in respect of their judgment, learning, 
and integrity, both at home and abroad, because themselves spake so much 
their own praise ; gold stands not in need of varnish, nor diamonds of paint-' 
ing: give us leave only to tell you, that we cannot but account it an emi- 
nent mercy to enjoy such helps as these are. It is ordinary in these days 
for men to speak evil of things they know not; but if any are possessed 

* Dr Tuckney in his Sermon on 2 Tim. i. 13. 



6 



THE EPISTLE TO THE READER. 



with mean thoughts of these treatises, we shall only give the same counsel 
to them that Philip gives Nathanael, Come and see, John i. 46. It is no 
small advantage the reader now hath, by the addition of scriptures at large, 
whereby with little pains he may more profit, because with every truth he 
may behold its scripture foundation. And, indeed, considering what a 
Babel of opinions, what a strange confusion of tongues, there is this day 
among them who profess they speak the language of Canaan, there is no 
intelligent person but will conclude that advice of the prophet especially 
suited to such an age as this, Isa. viii. 20, To the law, and to the testimony; 
if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. 
If the reverend and learned composers of these ensuing treatises were 
willing to take the pains of annexing scripture proofs to every truth, that 
the faith of people might not be built upon the dictates of men, but the au- 
thority of Grod, so some considerable pains hath now been further taken in 
transcribing those scriptures ; partly to prevent that grand inconvenience, 
(which all former impressions, except the Latin, have abounded with, to 
the great perplexing and disheartening of the reader,) the misquotation of 
scripture, the meanest reader being able, by having the words at large, to 
rectify whatever mistake may be in the printer in citing the particular 
place ; partly, to prevent the trouble of turning to every proof, which 
could not but be very great ; partly, to help the memories of such who are 
willing to take the pains of turning to every proof, but are unable to re- 
tain what they read ; and partly, that this may serve as a Bible common- 
place, the several passages of scripture, which are scattered up and down 
in the word, being in this book reduced to their proper head, and thereby 
giving light each to other. The advantages, you see, in this design, are 
many and great; the way to spiritual knowledge is hereby made more easy, 
and the ignorance of this age more inexcusable. 

If, therefore, there be any spark in you of love to God, be not content 
that any of yours should be ignorant of him whom you so much admire, or 
any haters of him whom you so much love. If there be any compassion 
to the souls of them who are under your care, if any regard of your being 
found faithful in the day of Christ, if any respect to future generations, 
labour to sow these seeds of knowledge, which may grow up in after-times. 
That you may be faithful herein, is the earnest prayer of, 



Henry Wilkinson, 

D.D. A.M.P. 
Roger Drake. 
William Taylor. 
Samuel Annesley. 
Thomas Gouge. 
Charles Offspring. 
Arthur Jackson. 
John Cross. 
Samuel Clerk. 
Samuel Slater. 
William Whitaker. 



John Fuller. 
James Nalton. 
Thomas Goodwin. 
Matthew Pool. 
William Bates. 
John Loder. 
Francis Ra worth. 
William Cooper. 
William Jenkin. 
Thomas Manton. 
Thomas Jacomb. 
George Griffiths. 



Edward Perkins. 
Ralph Venning. 
Jeremiah Burwell. 
Joseph Church. 
Has. Bridges. 
Samuel Smith. 
Samuel Rowles. 
John Glascock. 
Leo. Cooke. 
John Sheffield. 
Matthew Haviland. 
William Blackmore. 



Richard Kentish. 
Alexander Pringle. 
William Wickins. 
Thomas Watson. 
John Jackson. 
John Seabrooke. 
John Peachie. 
James Jollife. 
Obadiah Lee. 



MR THOMAS MANTON'S EPISTLE TO THE READER. 



Christian Header, 

ICANXOT suppose thee to be such a stranger in England as to be igno- 
rant of the general complaint concerning the decay of the power of 
godliness, and more especially of the great corruption of youth. Wherever 
thou goest, thou wilt hear men crying out of bad children and bad ser- 
vants ; whereas indeed the source of the mischief must be sought a little 
higher : it is bad parents and bad masters that make bad children and bad f 
servants ; and we cannot blame so much their untowardness, as our own 
negligence in their education. 

The devil hath a great spite at the kingdom of Christ, and he knoweth 
no such compendious way to crush it in the egg, as by the perversion oi 
youth, and supplanting family-duties. He striketh at all those duties 
which are publick in the assemblies of the saints ; but these are too well 
guarded by the solemn injunctions and dying charge of Jesus Christ, as 
that he should ever hope totally to subvert and undermine them ; but at 
family-duties he striketh with the more success, because the institution is 
not so solemn, and the practice not so seriously and conscientiously re- \ 
garded as it should be, and the omission is not so liable to notice and pub- 
lick censure. Keligion was first hatched in families, and there the devil . 
seeketh to crush it ; the families of the Patriarchs were all the Churches 
God had in the world for the time ; and therefore, (I suppose,) when Cain 
went out from Adam's family, he is said to go out from the face of the 
Lord, Gen. iv. 16. Now, the devil knoweth that this is a blow at the root, 
and a ready way to prevent the succession of Churches : if he can subvert 
families, other societies and communities will not long flourish and subsist 
with any power and vigour ; for there is the stock from whence they are 
supplied both for the present and future. 

For the present : A family is the seminary of Church and State ; and 
if children be not well principled there, all miscarrieth : a fault in the first 
concoction is not mended in the second ; if youth be bred ill in the family, i 
they prove ill in Church and Commonwealth ; there is the first making or 
marring, and the presage of their future lives to be thence taken, Prov. 
xx. 11. By family discipline, officers are trained up for the Church, 
1 Tim. iii. 4, One that ruleth well his own house, &c. ; and there are men 
bred up in subjection and obedience. It is noted, Acts xxi. 5, that the 
disciples brought Paul on his way with their wives and children ; their 
children probably are mentioned, to intimate, that their parents would, by 
their own example and affectionate farewell to Paul, breed them up in a 
way of reverence and respect to the pastors of the Church. 

For the future : It is comfortable, certainly, to see a thriving nursery of 
young plants, and to have hopes that God shall have a people to serve him 
when we are dead and gone : the people of God. comforted themselves in 
that, Ps. cii. 28, The children of thy servants shall continue, &c. 



8 



ME, THOMAS MANTON'S 



Upon all these considerations, how careful should ministers and parents 
be to train up young ones whilst they are yet pliable, and, like wax, ca- 
pable of any form and impression, in the knowledge and fear of God ; and 
betimes to instil the principles of our most holy faith, as they are drawn 
into a short sum in Catechisms, and so altogether laid in the view of con- 
science ! Surely these seeds of truth planted in the field of memory, if 
they work nothing else, will at least be a great check and bridle to them, 
and, as the casting in of cold water doth stay the boiling of the pot, some- 
what allay the fervours of youthful lusts and passions. 

I had, upon entreaty, resolved to recommend to thee with the greatest 
earnestness the work of catechising, and, as a meet help, the usefulness of 
this book, as thus printed with the Scriptures at large : but meeting with 
a private letter of a very learned and godly divine, wherein that work is 
excellently done to my hand, I shall make bold to transcribe a part of it, 
and offer it to publick view. 

The author having bewailed the great distractions, corruptions, and 
divisions that are in the Church, he thus represents the cause and cure : 
" Among others, a principal cause of these mischiefs is the great and com- 
mon neglect of the governors of families, in the discharge of that duty 
which they owe to God for the souls that are under their charge, especi- 
ally in teaching them the doctrine of Christianity. Families are societies 
that must be sanctified to God as well as Churches ; and the governors of 
them have as truly a charge of the souls that are therein, as pastors have 
of the Churches. But, alas, how little is this considered or regarded ! But 
while negligent ministers are (deservedly) cast out of their places, the neg- 
ligent masters of families take themselves to be almost blameless. They 
offer their children to God in baptism, and there they promise to teach them 
the doctrine of the gospel, and bring them up in the nurture of the Lord ; 
but they easily promise, and easily break it ; and educate their children 
for the world and the flesh, although they have renounced these, and dedi- 
cated them to God. This covenant-breaking with God, and betraying the 
souls of their children to the devil, must lie heavy on them here or here- 
after. They beget children, and keep families, merely for the world and 
the flesh : but little consider what a charge is committed to them, and what 
it is to bring up a child for God, and govern a family as a sanctified 
society. 

" O how sweetly and successfully would the work of God go on, if we 
would but all join together in our several places to promote it ! Men need 
not then run without sending to be preachers ; but they might find that 
part of the work that belongeth to them to be enough for them, and to 
be the best that they can be employed in. Especially women should be 
careful of this duty ; because as they are most about their children, and 
have early and frequent opportunities to instruct them, so this is the prin- 
cipal service they can do to God in this world, being restrained from more 
publick work. And doubtless many an excellent magistrate hath been 
sent into the Commonwealth, and many an excellent pastor into the 
Church, and many a precious saint to heaven, through the happy prepara- 
tions of a holy education, perhaps by a woman that thought herself use- 
less and unserviceable to the Church. Would parents but begin betimes, 
and labour to affect the hearts of their children with the great matters of 
everlasting life, and to acquaint them with the substance of the doctrine 
of Christ, and, when they find in them the knowledge and love of Christ, 



EPISTLE TO THE READER. 



9 



would bring them then to the pastors of the Church to be tried, confirmed, 
and admitted to the further privileges of the Church, what happy, well- 
ordered Churches might we have ! Then one pastor need not be put to do 
the work of two or three hundred or thousand governors of families, even 
to teach their children those principles which they should have taught 
them long before ; nor should we be put to preach to so many miserable 
ignorant souls, that be not prepared by education to understand us ; nor 
should we have need to shut out so many from holy communion upon the 
account of ignorance, that yet have not the grace to feel it and lament it, 
nor the wit and patience to wait in a learning state, till they are ready to 
be fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. But now 
they come to us with aged self-conceitedness, being past children, and yet. 
worse than children still ; having the ignorance of children, but being 
overgrown the teachableness of children ; and think themselves wise, yea, 
wise enough to quarrel with the wisest of their teachers, because they have 
lived long enough to have been wise, and the evidence of their knowledge 
is their aged ignorance ; and they are readier to flee in our faces for ^ 
Church-privileges, than to learn of us, and obey our instructions, till they 
are prepared for them, that they may do them good ; like snappish curs, 
that will snap us by the fingers for their meat, and snatch it out of our 
hands ; and not like children, that stay till we give it them. Parents have 
so used them to be unruly, that ministers have to deal but with too few 
but the unruly. And it is for want of this laying the foundation well at 
first, that professors themselves are so ignorant as most are, and that so 
many, especially of the younger sort, do swallow down almost any error 
that is offered them, and follow any sect of dividers that will entice them, 
so it be but done with earnestness and plausibility. For, alas ! though by 
the grace of Grod their hearts may be changed in an hour, (whenever they 
understand but the essentials of the faith,) yet their understandings must 
have time and diligence to furnish them with such knowledge as must 
stablish them, and fortify them against deceits. Upon these, and many 
the like considerations, we should entreat all Christian families to take 
more pains in this necessary work, and to get better acquainted with the 
substance of Christianity. And, to that end, (taking along some moving 
treatises to awake the heart,) I know not what work should be fitter for 
their use, than that compiled by the Assembly at Westminster ; a Synod 
of as godly, judicious divines, (notwithstanding all the bitter words which 
they have received from discontented and self-conceited men,) I verily ' 
think, as ever England saw. Though they had the unhappiness to be 
employed in calamitous times, when the noise of wars did stop men's ears, 
and the licentiousness of wars did set every wanton tongue and pen at 
liberty to reproach them, and the prosecution and event of those wars did 
exasperate partial discontented men to dishonour themselves by seeking to 
dishonour them ; I dare say, if in the days of old, when councils were in 
power and account, they had had but such a council of bishops, as this of 
presbyters \tfls, the fame of it for learning and holiness, and all ministerial 
abilities, would, with very great honour, have been transmitted to pos- 
terity. 

" I do therefore desire, that all masters of families would first study well 
this work themselves, and then teach it their children and servants, accord- 
ing to their several capacities. And, if they once understand these grounds 
of religion, they will be able to read other books more understanding^, 



10 



ME THOMAS MANTON'S EPISTLE TO THE READER. 



and hear sermons more profitably, and confer more judiciously, and hold 
fast the doctrine of Christ more firmly, than ever you are like to do by any 
other course. First, let them read and learn the Shorter Catechism, and 
next the Larger, and lastly, read the Confession of Faith." 

Thus far he, whose name I shall conceal, (though the excellency of the 
matter, and present style, will easily discover him,) because I have pub- 
lished it without his privity and consent, though, I hope, not against his 
liking and approbation. I shall add no more, but that I am, 

Thy servant, 

in the Lord's work, 

THOMAS MANTOK 



11 



An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the 
calling of an Assembly of learned and godly Divines, and others, to be 
consulted with by the Parliament, for the settling of the government and 
liturgy of the Church of England ; and for vindicating and clearing of 
the doctrine of the said Church from false aspersions and interpretations. 
June 12, 1643. 

WHEREAS, amongst the infinite blessings of Almighty God upon this 
nation, none is nor can be more dear unto us than the purity of 
our religion ; and for that, as yet, many things remain in the liturgy, dis- 
cipline, and government of the Church, which do necessarily require a 
further and more perfect reformation than as yet hath been attained ; and 
whereas it hath been declared and resolved by the Lords and Commons 
assembled in Parliament, that the present Church-government by arch- 
bishops, their chancellors, commissars, deans, deans and chapters, archdea- 
cons, and other ecclesiastical officers depending upon the hierarchy, is evil, 
and justly offensive and burdensome to the kingdom, a great impediment to 
reformation and growth of religion, and very prejudicial to the state and 
government of this kingdom ; and therefore they are resolved that the 
same shall be taken away, and that such a government shall be settled in 
the Church as may be most agreeable to God's holy word, and most apt to 
procure and preserve the peace of the Church at home, and nearer agree- 
ment with the Church of Scotland, and other Reformed Churches abroad ; 
and, for the better effecting hereof, and for the vindicating and clearing 
of the doctrine of the Church of England from all false calumnies and as- 
persions, it is thought fit and necessary to call an Assembly of learned, 
godly, and judicious Divines, who, together with some members of both 
the Houses of Parliament, are to consult and advise of such matters and 
things, touching the premises, as shall be proposed unto them by both or 
either of the Houses of Parliament, and to give their advice and counsel 
therein to both or either of the said Houses, when, and as often as they 
shall be thereunto required : Be it therefore ordained, by the Lords and 
Commons in this present Parliament assembled, That all and every the 
persons hereafter in this present ordinance named, that is to say, — 

And such other person or persons as shall be nominated and appointed 
by both Houses of Parliament, or so many of them as shall not be letted 
by sickness, or other necessary impediment, shall meet and assemble, and 
are hereby required and enjoined, upon summons signed by the clerks of 
both Houses of Parliament, left at their respective dwellings, to meet and 
assemble themselves at Westminster, in the Chapel called King Henry the 
YII/s Chapel, on the first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thou- 
sand six hundred and forty-three ; and after the first meeting, being at 
least the number of forty, shall from time to time sit, and be removed from 
place to place ; and also that the said Assembly shall be dissolved in such 
manner as by both Houses of Parliament shall be directed : and the said 
persons, or so many of them as shall be so assembled, or sit, shall have 
power and authority, and are hereby likewise enjoined from time to time, 
during this present Parliament, or until further order be taken by both 
the said Houses, to confer and treat among themselves of such matters and 
things, touching and concerning the liturgy, discipline, and government 



12 



of the Church of England, for the vindicating and clearing of the doctrine 
of the same from all false aspersions and misconstructions, as shall be pro- 
posed unto them by both or either of the said Houses of Parliament, and 
no other ; and deliver their opinion, advices of, or touching the matters 
aforesaid, as shall be most agreeable to the word of God, to both or either 
of the Houses, from time to time, in such manner and sort as by both or 
either of the said Houses of Parliament shall be required ; and the same 
not to divulge, by printing, writing, or otherwise, without the consent of 
both or either Houses of Parliament. And be it further ordained by the 
authority aforesaid, That William Twisse, doctor in divinity, shall sit in the 
» chair, as prolocutor of the said Assembly ; and if he happen to die, or be 
letted by sickness, or other necessary impediment, then such other person 
to be appointed in his place as shall be agreed on by the said Houses of 
Parliament : And in case any difference in opinion shall happen amongst 
the said persons so assembled, touching any the matters that shall be 
proposed to them as aforesaid, that then they shall represent the same, 
together with the reasons thereof, to both or either the said Houses respec- 
tively, to the end such further direction may be given therein as shall be 
requisite to that behalf. And be it further ordained by the authority 
aforesaid, That, for the charges and expences of the said Divines, and 
every one of them, in attending the said service, there shall be allowed 
every one of them that shall so attend, during the time of their sai^ 
attendance, and for ten days before and ten days after, the sum of four 
shillings for every day, at the charges of the Commonwealth, at such time, 
and in such manner as by both Houses of Parliament shall be appointed. 
And be it further ordained, That all and every the said Divines, so, as 
aforesaid, required and enjoined to meet and assemble, shall be freed and 
acquitted of and from every offence, forfeiture, penalty, loss, or damage, 
which shall or may ensue or grow by reason of any non-residence or 
absence of them, or any of them, from his or their, or any of their church, 
churches, or cures, for or in respect of their said attendance upon the said 
service ; any law or statute of non-residence, or other law or statute 
enjoining their attendance upon their respective ministries or charges, to 
the contrary thereof notwithstanding. And if any of the persons above 
named shall happen to die before the said Assembly shall be dissolved by 
order of both Houses of Parliament, then such other person or persons 
shall be nominated and placed in the room and stead of such person or 
persons so dying, as by both the said Houses shall be thought fit and 
agreed upon ; and every such person or persons, so to be named, shall 
have the like power and authority, freedom and acquittal, to all intents and 
purposes, and also all such wages and allowances for the said service, dur- 
ing the time of his or their attendance, as to any other of the said persons 
in this ordinance is by this ordinance limited and appointed. Provided 
always, That this ordinance, or any thing therein contained, shall not give 
unto the persons aforesaid, or any of them, nor shall they in this Assem- 
bly assume to exercise any jurisdiction, power, or authority ecclesiastical 
whatsoever, or any other power than is herein particularly expressed. 



13 



Assembly at Edinburgh, August 19, 1643. Sess. 14. 

Commission of the General Assembly to some Ministers and Ruling Elders, 
for repairing to the Kingdom of England. 

THE General Assembly of the Church of Scotland finding it necessary 
to send some godly and learned of this Kirk to the kingdom of Eng- 
land, to the effect under written ; therefore gives full power and commis- 
sion to Mr Alexander Henderson, Mr Eobert Douglas, Mr Samuel Ruther- 
ford, Mr Robert Baillie, and Mr George Gillespie, Ministers, J ohn Earl of 
Cassilis, John Lord Maitland, and Sir Archibald Johnstoun of Warristoun, 
Elders, or any three of them, whereof two shall be Ministers, to repair to 
the kingdom of England, and there to deliver the declaration sent unto 
the Parliament of England, and the letter sent unto the Assembly of 
Divines now sitting in that kingdom ; and to propone, consult, treat, and 
conclude with that Assembly, or any Commissioners deputed by them, or 
any Committees or Commissioners deputed by the Houses of Parliament, in 
all matters which may further the union of this Island in one Form of Kirk- 
government, one Confession of Faith, one Catechism, one Directory for 
the worship of God, according to the instructions which they have re- 
ceived from the Assembly, or shall receive from time to time hereafter 
from the Commissioners of the Assembly deputed for that effect : with 
power also to them to convey to His Majesty the humble answer sent from 
this Assembly to His Majesty's letter, by such occasion as they shall think 
convenient ; and sicklike, to deliver the Assembly's answer to the letter 
sent from some well-affected brethren of the ministry there ; and generally 
authorises them to do all things which may further the so much desired 
union, and nearest conjunction of the two Churches of Scotland and 
England, conform to their instructions aforesaid. 



Many of the persons who were called by the foresaid Ordinance of the Lords 
and Commons {in that broken state of the Church) to attend the Assembly 
appeared not ; whereupon the whole work lay on the hands of the persons 
hereafter mentioned. 

The Promise and Vow taken by every Member admitted to sit in the Assembly. 

I A. B. do seriously promise and vow, in the presence of Almighty God, 
That in this Assembly, whereof I am a member, I will maintain nothing 
in point of doctrine, but what I believe to be most agreeable to the word 
of God ; nor in point of discipline, but what may make most for God's 
glory, and the peace and good of this church. 

A List of the Divines who met in the Assembly at Westminster. 

Dr William Twisse of Newbury, Prolo- Robert Harris of Hanwell, B.D. 

tutor, Thomas Gattaker of Rotherhithe, 

Dr Cornelius Burges of Waterford, Oliver Bowles of Sutton, B.D. 

John White of Dorchester, Assessors, Edward Reynolds of Bramston, 

Dr William Gouge of Blackfriars, London, Jeremiah Whitaker of Streton, 



14 



Dr Anthony Tuckney of Boston, 
John Arrowsmith of Lynne, 
Simeon Ashe of St Brides, 
Philip Nye of Kimbolton, 
Jeremiah Burroughs of Stepney, 
John Lightfoot of Ashley, 
Stanley Gower of Brampton Bryan, 
Richard Heyrick of Manchester, 
Thomas Case of London, 
Dr Thomas Temple of Battery, 
George Gipps of Ayleston, 
Thomas Carter, 

Dr Humphrey Chambers of Claverstoun, 
Thomas Micklethwait of Cherryburton, 
John Guibon of Waltham, 
Christopher Tesdale of Uplmsborne, 
Henry Philps, 
George Walker, B.D. 
Edmund Calamy, B.D. of Aldermanbury, 
Dr Lazarus Seaman of London, 
Joseph Caryl of Lincoln's Inn, 
Dr Henry Wilkinson senior of Waderston, 
Richard Vines of Calcot, 
Nicholas Profit of Marlborough, 
Stephen Marshall, B.D. of Finchingfield, 
Dr Joshua Hoyle late of Dublin, 
Thomas Wilson of Otham, 
Thomas Hodges of Kensington, 
Thomas Baillie of Mildenhall, B.D. 
Francis Taylor of Yalding, 
Thomas Young of Stownmarket, 
Thomas Valentine, B.D. of Chalfont, St 
Giles, 

William Greenhill of Stepney, 
Edward Pele of Compton, 
John Green of Pencomb, 
Andrew Pern of Wilby, 
Samuel de la Place, 
John de la March, 
John Dury, 
Philip Deline, 

Sidrach Simpson of London, 
John Langley of Westuderly, 
Richard Clayton of Showers, 
Arthur Sallaway of Seavernestock, 
John Ley of Budworth, 
Charles Herle of Winwich, prolocutor after 
Dr Twisse, 



Herbert Palmer, B.D. of Ashwel, assessor 

after Mr White, 
Daniel Cawdrey of Great Billing, 
Henry Painter, B.D. of Exeter, 
Henry Scudder of Colin born, 
Thomas Hill, B.D. of Tichmarsh, 
William Reynor, B.D. of Egham, 
Dr Thomas Goodwin of London, 
Dr William Spurstow of Hampden, 
Matthew Newcomb of Dedham, 
Dr Edmond Staunton of Kingston, 
John Conant of Lymmington, B.D. 
Anthony Burges of Sutton Coldfield, 
William Rathband, 
Dr Francis Cheynel of Oxen, 
Dr Henry Wilkinson younger of Oxford, 
Obadiah Sedgwick, B.D. of Cogshal, 
Edward Corbist of Marton College, Ox- 
ford, 

Samuel Gibson of Burley, 
Thomas Coleman of Bliton, 
Theodore Backhurst, 
William Carter of London, 
Peter Smith, 

John Maynard of Mayfield, 

William Price of Paul's Church in Covent 

Garden, 

John Whincop of St Martins in the Fields, 
William Bridge of Yarmouth, 
Peter Sterry of London, 
William Mew, B.D. of Eslington, 
Benjamin Pickering of East Hoatly, 
John Strickland of St Edmonds in Sarum, 
Humphrey Hardwick, 
J asper Hicks of Lawrick or Lanrake, 
John Bond, 

Henry Hall, B.D. of Norwich, 
Thomas Ford of London, afterwards of 
Exeter, 

Thomas Thorogood of Massingham, 
Peter Clerk of Kerby Underbill, 
William Good, 
J ohn Foxcrof t of Cotham, 
John Ward, 

Richard Byfield of Long-Ditton, 
Francis Woodcock, 
John Jackson of Marske. 



Commissioners from the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. 



Alexander Henderson of Edinburgh, 
Robert Douglas of Edinburgh, 
Samuel Rutherford of St Andrews, 
Robert Baillie of Glasgow, 
George Gillespie of Edinburgh, Ministers, 
John Earl of Cassilis, 



John Lord Maitland, afterwards Duke of 

Lauderdale, 
Sir Archibald Johnstoun of "Waristoun, 
Henry Robrough, [Ruling Elders, 

Adoniram Byfield, 
John Wallis, Scribes. 



Assembly at Edinburgh, August 27, 1647. Sess. 23. 
Act approving the Confession of Faith. 

A CONFESSION of Faith for the Kirks of God in the three kingdoms, 
being the chiefest part of that uniformity in religion which, by the 
Solemn League and Covenant, we are bound to endeavour : And there 



15 



being accordingly a Confession of Faith agreed upon by the Assembly of 
Divines sitting at Westminster, with the assistance of Commissioners from 
the Kirk of Scotland; which Confession was sent from our Commissioners 
at London to the Commissioners of the Kirk met at Edinburgh in January 
last, and hath been in this Assembly twice publickly read over, examined, 
and considered ; copies thereof being also printed, that it might be parti- 
cularly perused by all the members of this Assembly, unto whom frequent 
intimation was publickly made, to put in their doubts and objections, if 
they had any : And the said Confession being, upon due examination 
thereof, found by the Assembly to be most agreeable to the word of God, 
and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, worship, discipline, and 
government of this Kirk. And, lastly, It being so necessary, and so much 
longed for, that the said Confession be, with all possible diligence and 
expedition, approved and established in both kingdoms, as a principal part 
of the intended uniformity in religion, and as a special means for the more 
effectual suppressing of the many dangerous errors and heresies of these 
times ; the General Assembly doth therefore, after mature deliberation, 
agree unto, and approve the said Confession, as to the truth of the mat- 
ter; (judging it to be most orthodox, and grounded upon the word of God;) 
and also, as to the point of uniformity, agreeing for our part, that it be a 
common Confession of Faith for the three kingdoms. The Assembly doth 
also bless the Lord, and thankfully acknowledge his great mercy, in that 
so excellent a Confession of Faith is prepared, and thus far agreed upon 
in both kingdoms ; which we look upon as a great strengthening of the 
true reformed religion against the common enemies thereof, But, lest our 
intention and meaning be in some particulars misunderstood, it is hereby 
expressly declared and provided, That the not mentioning in this Con- 
fession the several sorts of ecclesiastical officers and assemblies, shall be no » 
prejudice to the truth of Christ in these particulars, to be expressed fully 
in the Directory of Government. It is further declared, That the Assem- 
bly understandeth some parts of the second article of the thirty-one chapter 
only of kirks not settled, or constituted in point of government : And that 
although, in such kirks, a synod of Ministers, and other fit persons, may 
be called by the Magistrate's authority and nomination, without any other 
call, to consult and advise with about matters of religion ; and although, 
likewise, the Ministers of Christ, without delegation from their churches, 
may of themselves, and by virtue of their office, meet together synodically 
in such kirks not yet constituted, yet neither of these ought to be done in 
kirks constituted and settled ; it being always free to the Magistrate to 
advise with synods of Ministers and Ruling Elders, meeting upon dele- 
gation from their churches, either ordinarily, or, being indicted by his i 
authority, occasionally, and pro re nata ; it being also free to assemble ' 
together synodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon 
delegation from the churches, by the intrinsical power received from Christ, 
as often as it is necessary for the good of the Church so to assemble, in 
case the Magistrate, to the detriment of the Church, withhold or deny his 
consent ; the necessity of occasional assemblies being first remonstrate unto 
him by humble supplication. 

A. KER. 



16 



Charles I. Pari. 2. Sess. 2. Act 16. 
Act anent the Catechisms, Confession of Faith, and Ratification thereof 
At Edinburgh, February 7, 1649. 

THE Estates of Parliament, now presently convened in this second Ses- 
sion of the second triennial Parliament, by virtue of an Act of the 
Committee of Estates, who had power and authority from the last Parlia- 
ment for convening the Parliament, having seriously considered the Cate- 
chisms, viz. the Larger and Shorter ones, with the Confession of Faith, with 
three Acts of Approbation thereof by the Commissioners of the General 
Assembly, presented unto them by the Commissioners of the said General 
Assembly ; do ratify and approve the said Catechisms, Confession of Faith, 
and Acts of Approbation of the same, produced as it is ; and ordains them 
to be recorded, published, and practised. 



ACT 7th June 1690. 

Ratifying the Confession of Faith, and settling Presbyterian Church 
Government. 

OUR Sovereign Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's Majesties, and 
three Estates of Parliament, conceiving it to be their bounden duty, 
after the great deliverance that Cod hath lately wrought for this Church 
and Kingdom, in the first place to settle and secure therein the true Pro- 
testant religion, according to the truth of God's word, as it hath of a long 
time been professed within this land ; as also the government of Christ's 
Church within this Nation, agreeable to the word of God, and most con- 
ducive to the advancement of true piety and godliness, and the establish- 
ing of peace and tranquillity within this realm, — they, by these presents, 
ratify and establish the Confession of Faith now read in their presence, and 
voted and approven by them, as the public and avowed Confession of this 
Church, containing the sum and substance of the Doctrine of the Reformed 
Churches, (which Confession of Faith is subjoined to this present Act,) as 
also they do establish, ratify, and confirm the Presbyterian Church Go- 
vernment and Discipline ; that is to say, the Government of the Church by 
Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies, 
ratified and established by the 114 Act James VI., Pari. 12, Anno 1592, 
entitled Ratification of the Liberty of the Kirk, &c, and thereafter 
received by the general consent of this nation, to be the only Government 
of Christ's Church within this kingdom ; reviving, renewing, and confirm- 
ing the same in the whole heads thereof, except that part of it relating 
to Patronages, which is hereafter to be taken into consideration. 



CONFESSION OF FAITH; 

AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE 
ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION 
BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS 
OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND. 

APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1647, AND RATIFIED AND ESTABLISHED BY 
ACTS OF PARLIAMENT 1649 AND 1690, AS THE PCBLICK AND AVOWED 
CONFESSION OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 

WITU 

THE PE00FS FEOM THE SCEIPTURE. 



B 



THE CONTENTS. 



CHAP. 

I. f\F the Holy Scripture. 
II. U Of God, and of the Holy 
Trinity. 

III. Of God's Eternal Decree. 

IV. Of Creation. 
V. Of Providence. 

VI. Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and 

of the Punishment thereof. 
VII. Of God's Covenant with Man. 
VIII. Of Christ the Mediator. 
IX. Of Free Will. 
X. Of Effectual Calling. 
XI. Of Justification. 
XII. Of Adoption. 

XIII. Of Sanctification. 

XIV. Of Saving Faith. 

XV. Of Repentance unto Life. 
XVI. Of Good Works. 
XVII. Of the Perseverance of the 
Saints. 



CHAP. 

XVIII. Of Assurance of Grace and Sal- 
vation. 
XIX. Of the Law of God. 
XX. Of Christian Liberty, and Li- 
berty of Conscience. 

XXI. Of Eeligious Worship, and the 

Sabbath-day. 

XXII. Of lawful Oaths and Vows. 

XXIII. Of the Civil Magistrate. 

XXIV. Of Marriage and Divorce. 
XXV. Of the Church. 

XXVI. Of Communion of Saints. 

XXVII. Of the Sacraments. 

XXVIII. Of Baptism. 
XXIX. Of the Lord's Supper. 

XXX. Of Church Censures. 
XXXI. Of Synods and Councils. 
XXXH. Of the State of Men after Death, and 
of the Resurrection of the Dead. 
XXXIII. Of the last Judgment. 



THE 



CONFESSION OF FAITH, 

Agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster: 
Examined and approved, Anno 1647, by the General 
Assembly of the Church of Scotland ; and ratified by 
Acts of Parliament 1649 and 1690. 



CHAP. 1.— Of the Holy Scripture. 

L A LTHOUGH the light of nature, and the works of crea- 
±JL tion and providence, do so far manifest the goodness, 
wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable ; a 
yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, 
and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation : b therefore 
it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, 
to reveal himself, and to declare that his will unto his Church; 
and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of 
the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort 
of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the 
malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly 
unto writing ; d which maketh the holy scripture to be most 

not only do the same, but have pleasure in 
them that do them. With Rom. ii. 1. 
Therefore thou art inexcusable, man, 
whosoever thou art that judgest : for 
wherein thou judgest another, thou con- 
demnest thyself ; for thou that judgest 
doest the same things. 

b 1 Cor. i. 21. For after that, in the 
wisdom of God, the world by wisdom kneio 
not God, it pleased God by the foolishness 
of preaching to save them that believe. 1 
Cor. ii. 13. Which things also we speak, 
not in the words which man's wisdom 
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teach- 
eth ; comparing spiritual things with spiri- 
tual. Ver. 14. But the natural man 
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of 
God : for they are foolishness unto him; 
neither can he know them, because they 
are spiritually discerned. 

Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry times, 
and in divers manners, spake in time past 
unto the fathers by the prophets. 

d Prov. xxii. 19. That thy trust may 



I. a Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, 
which have not the law, do by nature the 
thingscontainedinthe law, these, having not 
the law, are a law unto themselves : Ver. 15. 
Which shew the work of the law written in 
their hearts, their conscience also bearing 
witness, ar>d their thoughts the mean while 
accusing or else excusing one another. Rom. 
i. 19. Because that which may be known of 
God is manifest in them: for God hath 
shewed it unto them. Ver. 20. For the 
invisible things of him from the creation 
of the world are clearly seen, being under- 
stood by the things that are made, even 
his eternal power and Godhead ; so that 
they are without excuse. Ps. xix. 1. The 
heavens declare the glory of God ; and the 
firmament sheiveth his handy -work. Ver. 2. 
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night 
unto night sheweth knowledge. Ver. 3. 
There is no speech nor language where their 
voice is not heard. Rom. i. 32. Who, know- 
ing the judgment of God, that they which 
commit such things are worthy of death, 



20 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. I. 



necessary; 6 those former ways of God's revealing his will unto 
his people being now ceased/ 

II. Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of 
God written, are now contained all the Books of the Old 
and New Testaments, which are these: — 



OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. 



Genesis. 


I. Kings. 


Ecclesiastes. 


Amos. 


Exodus. 


II. Kings. 


The Song of 


Obadiah. 


Leviticus. 


I. Chronicles. 


Songs. 


J onah. 


Numbers. 


II. Chronicles. 


Isaiah. 


Micah. 


Deuteronomy. 


Ezra. 


Jeremiah. 


Nahum. 


Joshua. 


Nehemiah. 


Lamentations. 


Habakkuk. 


Judges. 


Esther. 


Ezekiel. 


Zephaniah. 


Ruth. 


Job. 


Daniel. 


Haggai. 


I. Samuel. 


Psalms. 


Hosea. 


Zechariah. 


II. Samuel. 


Proverbs. 


Joel. 


Malachi. 



OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. 



The Gospels 
according to 
Matthew. 
Mark. 
Luke. 
John. 

The Acts of 
the Apostles. 



Paul's Epistles to 

the Remans. 
Corinthians I. 
Corinthians II. 
Galatians. 
Ephesians. 
Philippians. 
Colossians. 
Thessalonians I. 



Thessalonians II 
To Timothy I. 
To Timothy II. 
To Titus. 
To Philemon. 
The Epistle to 

the Hebrews. 
The Epistle of 

J ames. 



The first and se- 
cond Epistles of 
Peter. 

The first, second, 
and third Epis- 
tles of J ohn. 

The Epistle of 
Jude. 

The Revelation. 



be in the Lord, I have made known to thee 
this day, even to thee. Ver. 20. Have 
not I written to thee excellent things in 
counsels and knowledge ; Ver. 21. That I 
might make thee know the certainty of the 
words of truth ; that thou mightest answer 
the words of truth to them that send unto 
thee ? Luke i. 3. It seemed good to me 
also, having had perfect understanding of 
all things from the very first, to write unto 
thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 
Ver. 4. That thou mightest know the certainty 
of those things wherein thou hast been in- 
structed. Rom. xv. 4. For whatsoever 
things were written aforetime were written 
for our learning ; that we, through patience 
and comfort of the scriptures, might have 
hope. Matt. iv. 4. But he answered and 
said, It is written, Man shall not live by 
bread alone, but by every word that pro- 
ceedeth out of the mouth of God. Ver. 7. 
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, 
Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 
Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get 



thee hence, Satan : for it is written, Thou 
shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him 
only shalt thou serve.' Isa. viii. 19. And 
when they shall say unto you, Seek unto 
them that have familiar spirits, and unto 
wizards that peep and that mutter : should 
not a people seek unto their God? for the 
living to the dead ? Ver. 20. To the law 
and to the testimony : if they speak not ac- 
cording to this word, it is because there is 
no light in them. 

e 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a child 
thou hast known the holy scriptures, which 
are able to make thee wise unto salvation 
through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 
Pet. i. 19. We have also a more sure word 
of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye 
take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a 
dark place, until the day dawn, and the 
day-star arise in your hearts. 

f Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry times, 
and in divers manners, spake in time past 
unto the fathers by the prophets, Ver. 2. 
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by 



CHAP. I. 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



21 



All which are given by inspiration of God, to be the rule of 
faith and life. 8 

III. The Books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of 
divine inspiration, are no part of the canon of the scripture ; 
and therefore are of no authority in the Church of God, nor 
to be any otherwise approved, or made use of, than other 
human writings. 11 

IV. The authority of the holy scripture, for which it ought 
to be believed and obeyed, dependeth not upon the testi- 
mony of any man or church, but wholly upon God, (who is 
truth itself,) the author thereof ; and therefore it is to be re- 
ceived, because it is the word of God. 1 

Y. We may be moved and induced by the testimony of 
the Church to an high and reverend esteem of the holy 
scripture, k and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy 
of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all 
the parts, the scope of the whole, (which is to give all glory 
to God,) the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's 
salvation, the many other incomparable excellencies, and the 



his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of 
all things, by whom also he made the worlds. 

II. s Luke xvi. 29. Abraham saith unto 
him, They have Moses and the prophets; let 
them hear them. Ver. 31. And he said 
unto him, If they hear not Moses and the 
prophets, neither will they be persuaded 
though one rose from the dead. Eph. ii. 
20. And are built upon the foundation of 
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ him- 
self being the chief corner-stone. Kev. 
xxii. 18. For I testify unto every man that 
heareth the words of the prophecy of this 
book, If any man shall add unto these 
things, God shall add unto him the plagues 
that are written in this book: Ver. 19. 
And if any man shall take away from the 
words of the book of this prophecy, God 
shall take away his part out of the book 
of life, and out of the holy city, and from 
the things which are written in this book. 
2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given by 
inspiration of God, and is profitable for 
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in- 
struction in righteousness. 

III. h Luke xxiv. 27. And beginning at 
Moses and all the prophets, he expounded 
unto them in all the scriptures the things 
concerning himself. Ver. 44. And he said 
unto them, These are the words which I 
spake unto you, while I was yet with you, 
that all things must be fulfilled which toere 



written in the law of Moses, and in the Pro- 
phets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. 
Rom. iii. 2. Much every way : chiefly, 
because that unto them were committed 
the oracles of God. 2 Pet. i. 21. For the 
prophecy came not in old time by the will 
of man; but holy men of God spake as they 
were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

IV. 1 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a 
more sure word of prophecy ; whereunto ye 
do well that ye take heed, as unto a light 
that shineth in a dark place, until the day 
dawn, and the day-star arise in your 
hearts. Ver. 21. For the prophecy came 
not in old time by the will of man ; but 
holy men of God spake as they were moved 
by the Holy Ghost. 2 Tim. iii. 16. All 
scripture is given by inspiration of God, 
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 
for correction, for instruction in righteous- 
ness. 1 John v. 9. If we receive the wit- 
ness of men, the witness of God is greater: 
for this is the witness of God which he hath 
testified of his Son. 1 Thess. ii. 13. For 
this cause also thank we God without 
ceasing, because, when ye received the 
word of God which ye heard of us, ye re- 
ceived it not as the word of men, but (as it 
is in truth) the word of God, which effectu- 
ally worketh also in you that believe. 

V. * 1 Tim. iii. 15. But if I tarry long, 
that thou mayest know how thou oughtest 



22 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. I. 



entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth 
abundantly evidence itself to be the word of God ; yet, not- 
withstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the in- 
fallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the in- 
ward work of the Holy Spirit, bearing witness by and with 
the word in our hearts. 1 

VI. The whole counsel of God, concerning all things ne- 
cessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is 
either expressly set down in scripture, or by good and neces- 
sary consequence may be deduced from scripture : unto 
which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new 
revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men. m Neverthe- 
less, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of 
God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such 
things as are revealed in the word ; n and that there are some 
circumstances concerning the worship of God, and govern- 



to behave thyself in the house of God, 
which is the church of the living God, the 
pillar and ground of the truth. 

1 1 John ii. 20. But ye have an unction 
from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 
Ver. 27. But the anointing which ye have 
received of him abideth in you; and ye need 
not that any man teach you : but as the 
same anointing teacheth you of all things, 
and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it 
hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 
John xvi. 13. Howbeit when he, tJie Spirit 
of truth, is come, he will guide you into all 
truth : for he shall not speak of himself; 
but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he 
speak: and he will shew you things to 
come. Ver. 14. He shall glorify me ; for 
he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it 
unto you. 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath 
revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the 
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep 
things of God. Ver. 11. For what man 
knoweth the things of a man, save the 
spirit of man which is in him ? even so the 
things of God knoweth no man, but the 
Spirit of God. Ver. 12. Now we have re- 
ceived, not the spirit of the world, but the 
Spirit which is of God; that we might know 
the things that are freely given to us of 
God. Isa. lix. 21. As for me, this is my 
covenant with them, saith the Lord ; My 
Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which 
I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart 
out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of 
thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's 
seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and 
for ever. 



VI. m 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a 
child thou hast known the holy scriptures, 
which are able to make thee ivise unto sal- 
vation through faith which is in Christ 
Jesus. Ver. 16. All scripture is given by 
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doc- 
trine, for reproof, for correction, for in- 
struction in righteousness ; Ver. 17. That 
the man of God may be perfect, throughly 
furnished unto all good works. Gal. i. 8. 
But though we, or an angel from heaven, 
preach any other gospel unto you than that 
which we have preached unto you, let him 
be accursed. Ver. 9. As we said before, 
so say I now again, If any man preach any 
other gospel unto you than that ye have re- 
ceived, let him be accursed. 2 Thess. ii. 
2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or 
be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, 
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of 
Christ is at hand. 

n John vi. 45. It is written in the pro- 
phets, And they shall be all taught of God. 
Every man therefore that hath heard, and 
hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 
1 Cor. ii. 9. But, as it is written, Eye hath 
not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered 
into the heart of man, the things which God 
hath prepared for them that love him. 
Ver. 1 0. But God hath revealed them unto 
us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth 
all things, yea, the deep things of God. 
Ver. 11. For what man knoweth the 
things of a man, save the spirit of man 
which is in him ? even so the things of God 
knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 
Ver. 12. Now we have received, not the 



CHAP. I. 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



23 



menfc of the Church, common to human actions and societies, 
which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian 
prudence, according to the general rules of the word, which 
are always to be observed. 

VII. All things in scripture are not alike plain in them- 
selves, nor alike clear unto all; p yet those things which are 
necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, 
are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of scrip- 
ture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, 
in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a suf- 
ficient understanding of them. q 

VIII. The Old Testament in Hebrew, (which was the na- 
tive language of the people of God of old,) and the 'New 
Testament in Greek, (which at the time of the writing of it 
was most generally known to the nations,) being immedi- 
ately inspired by God, and by his singular care and provi- 
dence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentical ; r so as 
in all controversies of religion, the Church is finally to appeal 
unto them. 8 But because these original tongues are not 
known to all the people of God, who have right unto and 
interest in the scriptures, and are commanded, in the fear 
of God, to read and search them,* therefore they are to be 
translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto 
which they come, u that the word of God dwelling plentifully 

spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is VIII. r Matt. v. 18. For verily I say 

of God ; that we might know the things that unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one 

are freely given to us of God. jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from 

1 Cor. xi. 13. Judge in yourselves : is the law, till all be fulfilled. 

it comely that a woman pray unto God 8 Isa. viii. 20. To tlie law and to the tes- 

uncovered ? Ver. 14. Doth not even na- timony : if they speak not according to 

ture itself teach you, that, if a man have long this word, it is because there is no light in 

hair, it is a shame unto him ? 1 Cor. xiv. them. Acts xv. 15. And to this agree 

26. How is it then, brethren ? when ye the words of the prophets; as it is written, 

come together, every one of you hath a John v. 39. Search the scriptures; for in 

psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, them ye think ye have eternal life : and 

hath a revelation, hath an interpretation, they are they which testify of me. Ver. 

Let all things be done unto edifying. Ver. 46. For had ye believed Moses, ye would 

40. Let all things be done decently, and in have believed me: for he wrote of me. 

order. t John v. 39. Search the scriptures; for 

VII. p 2 Pet. iii. 16. As also in all in them ye think ye have eternal life : and 

his epistles, speaking in them of these they are they which testify of me. 

things : in which are some things hard to u 1 Cor. xiv. 6. Now, brethren, if I 

be understood, which they that are unlearn- come unto you speaking with tongues, what 

ed and unstable wrest, as they do also the shall I profit you, except I shall speak to 

other scriptures, unto their own destruction, you either by revelation, or by knowledge, 

1 Ps. cxix. 105. Thy word is a lamp or by prophesying, or by doctrine ? Ver. 
unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 9. So likewise ye, except ye utter by the 
Ver. 130. The entrance of thy words giveth tongue words easy to be understood, how 
light; it giveth understanding unto the simple, shall it be known what is spoken ? for ye 



24 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. II. 

in all, they may worship him in an acceptable manner/ and, 
through patience and comfort of the scriptures, may havehope. x 

IX. The infallible rule of interpretation of scripture is the 
scripture itself ; and therefore, when there is a question about 
the true and full sense of any scripture, (which is not mani- 
fold, but one,) it must be searched and known by other 
places that speak more clearly/ 

X. The supreme Judge, by which all controversies of re- 
ligion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opi- 
nions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, 
are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, 
can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the scripture/' 



CHAP. II.— Of God, and of the Holy Trinity. 

I. rpHERE is but one only a living and true God, b who is 
X infinite in being and perfection, a most pure 



shall speak into the air. Ver. 11. There- 
fore if I know not the meaning of the voice, 
I shall he unto him that speaketh a bar- 
barian, and he that speaketh shall be a 
barbarian unto me. Ver. 12. Even so ye, 
forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual 
gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edify- 
ing of the church. Ver. 24. But if all 
prophesy, and there come in one that be- 
lieveth not, or one unlearned, he is con- 
vinced of all, he is judged of all : Ver. 27. 
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, 
let it be by two, or at the most by three, 
and that by course ; and let one interpret. 
Ver. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let 
him keep silence in the church; and let him 
speak to himself, and to God. 

w Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Christ 
dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching 
and admonishing one another in psalms, 
and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing 
with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

x Bom. xv. 4. For whatsoever things 
were written aforetime, were written for 
our learning ; that we, through patience and 
comfort of the scriptures, might have hope. 

IX. y 2 Bet. i. 20. Knowing this first, 
that no prophecy of the scripture is of any 
private interpretation. Ver. 21. For the 
prophecy came not in old time by the will 
of man; but holy men of God spake as they 
were moved by the Holy Ghost. Acts xv. 
15. And to this agree the words of the pro- 
phets; as it is written, Ver. 16. After 
this I will return, and will build again the 



tabernacle of David, which is fallen down ; 
and I will build again the ruins thereof, 
and I will set it up. 

X. z Matt. xxii. 29. Jesus answered and 
said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the 
scriptures, nor the power of God. Ver. 31. 
But as touching the resurrection of the 
dead, have ye not read that which was 
spoken unto you by God, saying. Eph. 
ii. 20. And are built upon the foundation 
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ 
himself being the chief corner-stone. 
With Acts xxviii. 25. And when they 
agreed not among themselves, they de- 
parted, after that Paul had spoken one 
word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias 
the prophet unto our fathers. 

I. a Deut. vi. 4. Hear, Israel; The 
Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. viii. 4. As 
concerning therefore the eating of those 
things that are offered in sacrifice unto 
idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the 
world, and that there is none other God 
but one. Ver. 6. But to us there is but one 
God, the Father, of whom are all things, 
and we in him ; and one Lord J esus Christ, 
by whom are all things, and we by him. 

b 1 Thess. i. 9. For they themselves 
shew of us what manner of entering in we 
had unto you, and how ye turned to God 
from idols, to serve the living and true God. 
Jer. x. 10. But the Lord is the true God, he 
is the living God, and an everlasting King. 

c Job xi. 7. Canst thou by searching find 



CHAR II. 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



25 



spirit/ invisible/ without body, parts/or passions/ immutable, 11 
immense/ eternal/ incomprehensible, 1 almighty, m most wise, n 
most holy/ most free/ most absolute,* 1 working all things ac- 
cording to the counsel of his own immutable and most righte- 
ous will/ for his own glory/ most loving/ gracious, merciful, 
long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving ini- 



out God ? canst thou find out the Almighty 
unto perfection ? Ver. 8. It is as high as 
heaven; what canst thou do ? deeper than 
hell; what canst thou know? Ver. 9. 
The measure thereof is longer than the earth, 
and broader than the sea. Job xxvi. 14. 
Lo, these are parts of his ways ; but how 
little a portion is heard of him ? but the 
thunder of his power who can understand ? 

d John iv. 24. God is a Spirit : and they 
that worship him must worship him in 
spirit and in truth. 

e 1 Tim. i. 17. Now, unto the King eter- 
nal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, 
be honour and glory for ever and ever. 
A men. 

f Deut. iv. 15. Take ye therefore good 
heed unto yourselves, (for ye saw no man- 
ner of similitude on the day that the Lord 
spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of 
the fire,) Ver. 16. Lest ye corrupt your- 
selves, and make you a graven image, the 
similitude of any figure, the likeness of male 
or female. John iv. 24. God is a Spirit: 
and they that worship him must worship 
him in spirit and in truth. With Luke 
xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and my feet, 
that it is I myself : handle me, and see ; 
for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye 
see me have. 

g Acts xiv. 11. And when the people 
saw what Paul had done, they lifted up 
their voices, saying in the speech of Lyca- 
onia, The gods are come down to us in the 
likeness of men. Ver. 15. And saying, 
Sirs, why do ye these things ? We also are 
men of like passions with you, and preach 
unto you, that ye should turn from these 
vanities unto the living God, which made 
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all 
things that are therein. 

h James i. 17. Every good gift and 
every perfect gift is from above, and com- 
eth down from the Father of lights, with 
whom is no variableness, neither shadow of 
turning. Mai. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, 
/ change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are 
not consumed. 

1 1 Kings viii. 27. But will God indeed 
dwell on the earth ? Behold, the heaven, 
and heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee; 
how much less this house that I have 



builded ! Jer. xxiii. 23. Am I a God at 
hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar 
off? Ver. 24. Can any hide himself in 
secret places that I shall not see him ? saith 
the Lord : do not I fill heaven and earth ? 
saith the Lord. 

k Ps. xc. 2. Before the mountains were 
brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed 
the earth and the world, even from ever- 
lasting to everlasting, thou art God. 1 Tim. 
i. 17. Now, unto the King eternal, im- 
mortal, invisible, the only wise God, be 
honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

1 Ps. cxlv. 3. Great is the Lord, and 
greatly to be praised ; and his greatness is 
unsearchable. 

m Gen. xvii. 1. And when Abram was 
ninety years old and nine, the Lord ap- 
peared to Abram, and said unto him, lam 
the Almighty God: walk before me, and be 
thou perfect. Rev. iv. 8. And the four 
beasts had each of them six wings about 
him ; and they were full of eyes within : 
and they rest not day and night, saying, 
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which 
was, and is, and is to come. 

n Eom. xvi. 27. To God only wise, be 
glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. 

Isa. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, 
and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of 
hosts : the whole earth is full of his glory. 
Rev. iv. 8. [See letter m immediately 
foregoing.] 

p Ps. cxv. 3. But our God is in the 
heavens ; he hath done whatsoever he hath 
pleased. 

1 Exod. iii. 14. And God said unto 
Hoses, i am that i am : and he said, Thus 
shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, 
I am hath sent me unto you. 

r Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have ob- 
tained an inheritance, being predestinated 
according to the purpose of him who work- 
eth all things after the counsel of his own 
will. 

s Prov. xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all 
things for himself; yea, even the wicked 
for the day of evil. Bom. xi. 36. For of 
him, and through him, and to him, are all 
things: to whom be glory forever. Amen. 

* 1 John iv. 8. He that loveth not, 
knoweth not God ; for God is love. Ver. 



26 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. II. 



quity, transgression, and sin; u the rewarder of them that dili- 
gently seek him ; w and withal most just and terrible in his judg- 
ments ; x hating allsin/and who will by no means clear the guilty. 2 
II. God hath all life/ glory/ goodness/ blessedness/ in 
and of himself ; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufh- 
cient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath 
made/ not deriving any glory from them/ but only mani- 
festing his own glory, in, by, unto, and upon them : he is the 
alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to 
whom, are all things ; g and hath most sovereign dominion 
over them, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatso- 
ever himself pleaseth/ In his sight all things are open and 



16. And we have known and believed the 
love that God hath to us. God is love; 
and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in 
God, and God in him. 

u Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord passed 
by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, 
The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long- 
suffering, and abundant in goodness and 
truth. Ver. 7. Keeping mercy for thou- 
sands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, 
and sin, and that will by no means clear 
the guilty ; visiting the iniquity of the 
fathers upon the children, and upon the 
children's children, unto the third and 
to the fourth generation. 

w Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is im- 
possible to please him : for he that cometh 
to God must believe that he is, and that he 
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

* Neh. ix. 32. Now therefore, our God, 
the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, 
who keepest covenant and mercy, let not 
all the trouble seem little before thee that 
hath come upon us, on our kings, on our 
princes, and on our priests, and on our 
prophets, and on our fathers, and on all 
thy people, since the time of the kings of 
Assyria unto this day. Ver. 33. How- 
beit thou art just in all that is brought upon 
us; for thou host-done right, but we have 
done wickedly. 

y Ps. v. 5. The foolish shall not stand 
in thy sight : thou hatest all workers of ini- 
quity. Ver. 6. Thou shalt destroy them 
that speak leasing : the Lord will abhor the 
bloody and deceitful man. 

z Nah. i. 2. God is jealous, and the Lord 
revengeth ; the Lord revengeth, and is 
furious; the Lord will take vengeance on 
his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for 
his enemies. Ver. 3. The Lord is slow to 
anger, and great in power, and will not at 
all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his 



way in the whirlwind and in the storm, 
and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 
Exod. xxxiv. 7. Keeping mercy for thou- 
sands, forgiving iniquity, and transgres- 
sion, and sin, and that will by no means clear 
the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the 
fathers upon the children, and upon the 
children's children, unto the third and to 
the fourth generation. 

II. » John v. 26. For as the Father hath 
life in himself, so hath he given to the Son 
to have life in himself. 

b Acts vii. 2. And he said, Men, breth- 
ren, and fathers, hearken; the God of 
glory appeared unto our father Abraham, 
when he was in Mesopotamia, before he 
dwelt in Charran. 

c Ps. cxix. 68. Thou art good, and doest 
good: teach me thy statutes. 

d 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he 
shall shew, who is the blessed&xA only Poten- 
tate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. 
Eom. ix. 5. Whose are the fathers, and of 
whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, 
who is overall, God blessed for ever. Amen. 

e Acts xvii. 24. God, that made the 
world, and all things therein, seeing that 
he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth 
not in temples made with hands ; Ver. 25. 
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, 
as though he needed any thing, seeing he giv- 
eth to all life, and breath, and all things. 

f Job xxii. 2. Can a man be profitable- 
unto God, as he that is wise may be profit- 
able unto himself ? Ver. 3. Is it any plea- 
sure to the Almighty, that thou art righte- 
ous ? or is it gain to him, that thou mak- 
est thy ways perfect ? 

s Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and through 
him, and to him, are all things : to whom be 
glory for ever. Amen. 

h Rev. iv. 11. Thou art worthy, Lord, 
to receive glory, and honour, and power : 



CHAP. II. 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



27 



manifest; 1 his knowledge is infinite, infallible, and indepen- 
dent upon the creature/ so as nothing is to him contingent 
or uncertain. 1 He is most holy in all his counsels, in all his 
works, and in all his commands. 111 To him is due from angels 
and men, and every other creature, whatsoever worship, ser- 
vice, or obedience, he is pleased to require of them. n 

ITT, In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons, 
of one substance, power, and eternity; God the Father, God 
the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The Father is of none, 
neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally be- 
gotten of the Father ; p the Holy Ghost eternally proceeding 
from the Father and the Son. q 



for thou hast created all things, and for thy 
pleasure they are and were created. 1 Tim. vi. 
15. [See ietter d immediately foregoing.] 
Dan. iv. 25. That they shall drive thee 
from men, and thy dwelling shall he with 
the heasts of the field, and they shall make 
thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall 
wet thee with the dew of heaven, and 
seven times shall pass over thee, till thou 
know that the Most High ruleth in the king- 
dom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he 
will. Ver. 35. And all the inhabitants of 
the earth are reputed as nothing : and he 
doeth according to his will in the army of 
heaven, and among the inhabitants of the 
earth; and none can stay his hand, or say 
unto him, What doest thou ? 

1 Heb. iv. 13. Neither is there any crea- 
ture that is not manifest in his sight : but 
all things are naked and opened unto the 
eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

k Bom. xi. 33. the depth of the riches 
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! 
how unsearchable are his judgments, and 
his ways past finding out ! Ver. 34. For 
who hath known the mind of the Lord ? or 
who hath been his counsellor ? Ps. cxlvii. 5. 
Great is our Lord, and of great power : 
Ms understanding is infinite. 

1 Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all his 
works from the beginning of the world. 
Ezek. xi. 5. And the Spirit of the Lord 
fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak ; 
Thus saith the Lord, Thus have ye said, 
house of Israel: for i~ know the things 
that come into your mind, every one of them. 

m Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in 
all his ways, and holy in all his works. Rom. 
vii. 12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the 
commandment holy, and just, and good. 

» Eev. v. 12. Saying with a loud voice, 
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to re • 
ceive power, and riches, and wisdom, and 



strength, and honour, and glory, and bless- 
ing. Ver. 13. And every creature which 
is in heaven, and on the earth, and under 
the earth, and such as are in the sea, and 
all that are in them, heard I saying, 
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, 
be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, 
and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. 
Ver. 14. And the four beasts said, Amen. 
And the four and twenty elders fell down an d 
worshipped him that liveth forever and ever. 

III. ° 1 John v. 7. For there are three 
that bear record in heaven, the Father, the 
Word, and the Holy Ghost : and these 
three are one. Matt. iii. 16. And Jesus, 
when he was baptized, went up straight- 
way out of the water : and, lo, the heavens 
were opened unto him, and he saw the 
Spirit of God descending like a dove, and 
lighting upon him: Ver. 17. And lo a 
voice from heaven, saying, This is my be- 
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 
Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The 
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love 
of God, and the communion of the Holy 
Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 

p John i. 14. And the Word was made 
flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld 
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten 
of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Ver. 
1 8. No man hath seen God at any time ; 
the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom 
of the Father, he hath declared him. 

i John xv. 26. But when the Comforter 
is come, whom I will send unto you from 
the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which 
proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify 
of me. Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are 
sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his 
Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 



23 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. III. 



CHAP. III.— Of God's Eternal Decree. 

I. OD from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy 
VX counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably 
ordain whatsoever comes to pass: a yet so, as thereby neither 
is Grod the author of sin, b nor is violence offered to the will 
of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second 
causes taken away, but rather established. 

II. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to 
pass upon all supposed conditions ; d yet hath he not decreed 
any thing because he foresaw it as future, or as that which 
would come to pass upon such conditions. 6 



L a Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have ob- 
tained an inheritance, being predestinated 
according to the purpose of him who worketh 
all things after the counsel of his own will. 
Rom. xi. 33. the depth of tlie riches both 
of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how 
unsearchable are his judgments, and his 
ways past finding out ! Heb. vi. 17. 
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to 
shew unto the heirs of promise the immu- 
tability of his counsel, confirmed it by an 
oath. Rom. ix. 15. For he saith to Moses, 
I will have mercy on whom I will have 
mercy, and I will have compassion on whom 
J will ham compassion. Ver. 18. There- 
fore hath he mercy on whom he will have 
mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 

t> James i. 13. Let no man say, when he 
is tempted, / am tempted of God: for God 
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempt- 
eth he any man. Ver. 1 7. Every good gift 
and every perfect gift is from above, and 
cometh down from the Father of lights, 
with whom is no variableness, neither 
shadow of turning. 1 John i. 5. This 
then is the message which we have heard 
of him, and declare unto you, that God is 
light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

c Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by 
the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of 
God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands 
have crucified and slain. Matt. xvii. 12. 
But I say unto you, That Elias is come al- 
ready, and they knew him not, but have 
done unto him whatsoever they listed : like- 
wise shall also the Son of man suffer of 
them. Acts iv. 27. For of a truth, against 
thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast 
anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, 
with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, 



were gathered together, Ver. 28. For to 
do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel de- 
termined before to be done. John xix. 11. 
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no 
power at all against me, except it were 
given thee from above: therefore he that 
delivered me unto thee hath the greater 
sin. Prov. xvi. 33. The lot is cast into 
the lap ; but the whole disposing thereof is 
of the Lord. 

II. d Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are 
all his works from the beginning of the 
world. 1 Sam. xxiii. 11. Will the men of 
Keilah deliver me up into his hand ? will 
Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard ? 
Lord God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell 
thy servant. And the Lord said, He will 
come down. Ver. 12. Then said David, 
Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my 
men into the hand of Saul ? And the Lord 
said, They will deliver thee up. Matt. xi. 
21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto 
thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty works, 
which were done in you, had been done in 
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented 
long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Ver. 23. 
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted 
unto heaven, shalt be brought down to 
hell : for if the mighty works, which have 
been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, 
it would have remained until this day. 

e Rom. ix. 11. For the children being not 
yet born, neither having done any good or evil, 
that the purpose of God according to elec- 
tion might stand, not of works, but of him 
that calleth. Ver. 13. As it is written, 
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 
Ver. 16. So then it is not of him that 
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of 
God that sheweth mercy. Ver. 18. There- 



CHAP. III. 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



29 



III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his 
glory, some men andangels f are predestinated unto everlast- 
ing life, and others foreordained to everlasting deaths 

IV. These angels and men, thus predestinated and fore- 
ordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed ; and 
their number is so certain and definite, that it cannot be 
either increased or diminished. 11 

V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, 
before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his 
eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and 
good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ unto ever- 
lasting glory/ out of his mere free grace and love, without 
any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in 
either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as condi- 
tions, or causes moving him thereunto ; k and all to the praise 
of his glorious grace. 1 

VI. As God hath appointed the elect unto glory, so hath 
he, by the eternal and most free purpose of his will, fore- 
ordained all the means thereunto. m Wherefore they who 



fore hath he mercy on whom he will have- 
mercy, and whom he will he hardenetlu 

III. f 1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before 
God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
elect angels, that thou observe these things, 
without preferring one before another, do- 
ing nothing by partiality. Matt. xxv. 41. 
Then shall he say also unto them on the 
left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into 
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and 
his angels. 

k Rom. ix. 22. What if God, willing to 
shew his wrath, and to make his power 
known, endured with much long-suffering 
the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction ; 
Ver. 23. And that he might make known 
the riches of his glory on the vessels of 
mercy which he had afore prepared unto glory. 
Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us unto the 
adoption of children by Jesus Christ to him- 
self, according to the good pleasure of his 
will. Ver. 6. To the praise of the glory 
of his grace, wherein he hath made us ac- 
cepted in the Beloved. Prov. xvi. 4. The 
Lord hath made all things for himself ; 
yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 

IV. h 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless the 
foundation of God standeth sure, having 
this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are 
his. And, Let every one that nameth the 
name of Christ depart from iniquity. John 
xiii. 18. I speak not of you all ; 1 know 
whom I have chosen : but, that the scripture 



may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with 
me hath lifted up his heel against me. 

V. 1 Eph. i. 4. According as he hath 
chosen us in him before the foundation of the 
world, that we should be holy, and without 
blame before him in love : Ver. 9. Having 
made known unto us the mystery of his 
will, according to his good pleasure, which 
he hath purposed in himself: Ver. 11. In 
whom also we have obtained an inherit- 
ance, being predestinated according to the 
purpose of him who worketh all things 
after the counsel of his own will. Rom. 
viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did predesti- 
nate, them he also called ; and whom he 
called, them he also justified ; and whom 
he justified, them he also glorified. 2 Tim. 
i. 9. Who hath saved us, and called us 
with an holy calling, not according to our 
works, but according to his ownpurpose and 
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus 
before the world began. 1 Thess. v. 9. For 
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but 
to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. 

* Eom. ix. 11, 13, 16. [See letter e 
immediately foregoing.] Eph. i. 4, 9. 
[See letter 1 immediately foregoing.] 

i Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of 
his grace, wherein he hath made us ac- 
cepted in the Beloved : Ver. 12. That we 
should be to the praise of his glory, who 
first trusted in Christ. 

VI. m 1 Pet. i. 2. Elect according to 



so 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. III. 



are elected being fallen in Adam, are redeemed by Christ; 11 
are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit work- 
ing in due season ; are justified, adopted, sanctified, and 
kept by his power through faith unto salvation. p ^Neither 
are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, 
adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only. q 

VII. The rest of mankind, God was pleased, according to 
the unsearchable counsel of his own will, whereby he ex- 
tendeth or withholdeth mercy as he pleaseth, for the glory 
of his sovereign power over his creatures, to pass by, and to 
ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the 
praise of his glorious justice. 1 " 

VIII. The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination 



the foreknowledge of God the Father, 
through sanctification of the Spirit, unto 
obedience and sprinkling of the blood of 
Jesus Christ. Eph. i. 4. According as he 
hath chosen us in him before the founda- 
tion of the world, that we should be holy 
and without blame before him in love : Ver. 
5. Having predestinated us unto the adop- 
tion of children by Jesus Christ to himself, 
according to the good pleasure of his will. 
Eph. ii. 10. For we are his workmanship, 
created in Christ Jesus unto good works, 
which God hath before ordained that we 
should walk in them. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But 
we are bound to give thanks alway to God 
for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, be- 
cause God hath from the beginning chosen 
you to salvation through sanctification of the 
Spirit, and belief of the truth. 

a 1 Thess. v. 9. For God hath not ap- 
pointed us to wrath, but to obtain salva- 
tion by our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 10. 
Who died for us, that, whether we wake 
or sleep, we should live together with him. 
Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himself for us, that 
he might redeem us from all iniquity, and 
purify unto himself a peculiar people, 
zealous of good works. 

o Kom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he did 
predestinate, them he also called ; and whom 
he called, them he also justified ; and whom 
he justified, them he also glorified. Eph. i. 
5. Having predestinated us unto the adop- 
tion of children by Jesus Christ to himself, 
according to the good pleasure of his will. 
2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give 
thanks alway to God for you, brethren be- 
loved of the Lord, because God hath from 
the beginning chosen you to salvation 
through sanctification of the Spirit, and be- 
lief of the truth. 



p 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power 
of God through faith unto salvation, ready to 
be revealed in the last time. 

i John xvii. 9. I pray for them : I pray 
not for the world, but for them which thou 
hast given me ; for they are thine. Kom. 
viii. 28. And we knowthat all things work 
together for good to them that love God, to 
them who are the called according to his 
purpose, etc. [to the end of the chapter.] 
John vi. 64. But there are some of you 
that believe not. For Jesus knew from the 
beginning who they were that believed not, and 
who should betray him. Ver. 65. And he 
said, Therefore said I unto you, that no 
man can come unto me, except it were given 
unto him of my Father. John x. 26. But 
ye believe not ; because ye are not of my 
sheep, as I said unto you. John viii. 47. 
He that is of God heareth God's words : 
ye therefore hear them not, because ye are 
not of God. 1 John ii. 19. They went out 
from us, but they were not of us; for if 
they had been of us, they would no doubt 
have continued with us : but they went 
out, that they might be made manifest that 
they were not all of us. 

VII. r Matt. xi. 25. At that time Jesus 
answered and said, I thank thee, Father, 
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou 
hast hid these things from the wise and pru- 
dent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Ver. 
26. Even so, Father : for so it seemed good 
in thy sight. Rom. ix. 17. For the scrip- 
ture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this 
same purpose have I raised thee up, that 
I might shew my power in thee, and that 
my name might be declared throughout all the 
earth. Ver. 18. Therefore hath he mercy 
on whom he will have mercy, and whom he 
will he hardeneth. Ver. 21. Hath not the 



CHAP. IV. THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



31 



is to be handled with special prudence and care, 8 that men 
attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding 
obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their ef- 
fectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election.* So 
shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and ad- 
miration of God, u and of humility, diligence, and abundant 
consolation, to all that sincerely obey the Gospel. w 



CHAP IV.— Of Creation. 



I. TT pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, a for 
JL the manifestation of the glory of his eternal power, 



potter power over the clay, of the same 
lump to make one vessel unto honour and 
another unto dishonour ? Ver. 22. What 
if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to 
make his power known, endured with much 
long-suffering the vessels of ivrath fitted to 
destruction ? 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless 
the foundation of God standeth sure, hav- 
ing this seal, The Lord knoweth them that 
are his. And, Let every one that nameth 
the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 
Ver. 20. But in a great house there are not 
only vessels of gold and of silver, but also 
of wood and of earth ; and some to honour 
and some to dishonour. Jude ver. 4. For 
there are certain men crept in unawares, 
who were before of old ordained to this con- 
demnation, ungodly men, turning the grace 
of our God into lasciviousness, and deny- 
ing the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 1 Pet. ii. 8. And a stone of stum- 
bling, and a rock of offence, even to them 
which stumble at the word, being disobe- 
dient ; whereunto also they were appointed. 

VIII. s Rom. ix. 20. Nay but, man, 
who art thou that repliest against God ? 
Shall the thing formed say to him that 
formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 
Rom. xi. 33. the depth of the riches both 
of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! how 
unsearchable are his judgments, and his 
ways past finding out! Deut. xxix. 29. 
The secret things belong unto the Lord our 
God ; but those things which are revealed 
belong unto us and to our children for ever, 
that we may do all the words of this law. 

* 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, 
brethren, give diligence to make your call- 



ing and election sure : for if ye do these 
things, ye shall never fall. 

u Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of 
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted 
in the Beloved. Rom. xi. 33. [See letter 3 
immediately foregoing.] 

w Rom. xi. 5. Even so then at this pre- 
sent time also there is a remnant according 
to the election of grace. Ver. 6. And if by 
grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise 
grace is no more grace. But if it be of 
works, then is it no more grace ; otherwise 
work is no more work. Ver. 20. Well ; 
because of unbelief they were broken off, 
and thou standest by faith. Be not high- 
minded, but fear. 2 Pet. i. 10. [See letter * 
immediately foregoing.] Rom. viii. 33. 
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of 
God's elect ? It is God that justifieth. 
Luke x. 20. Notwithstanding, in this re- 
joice not, that the spirits are subject unto 
you; but rather rejoice, because your names 
are written in heaven. 

I. a Heb. i. 2. Hath in these last days 
spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath 
appointed heir of all things, by whom also 
he made the worlds. John i. 2. The same 
was in the beginning with God. Ver. 3. 
All things were made by him ; and without 
him was not any thing made that was made. 
Gen. i. 2. And the earth was without 
form, and void ; and darkness was upon 
the face of the deep : and the Spirit of God 
moved upon the face of the waters. Job 
xxvi. 13. By his Spirit he has garnished 
the heavens ; his hand hath formed the 
crooked serpent. Job xxxiii. 4. The Spirit 



32 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. IV. 



wisdom, and goodness/ in the beginning, to create, or make 
of nothing, the world, and all things therein, whether visible 
or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good. c 

II. After God had made all other creatures, he created 
man, male and female/ with reasonable and immortal souls, 6 
endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, 
after his own image/ having the law of God written in their 
hearts/ and power to fulfil it ; h and yet under a possibility of 
transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which 
was subject unto change. 1 Beside this law written in their 
hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the 
knowledge of good and evil/ which while they kept, they 



of God hath made me, and the breath of 
the Almighty hath given me life. 

b Eom. i. 20. For the invisible things of 
him from the creation of the world are 
clearly seen, being understood by the things 
that are made, even his eternal power and 
Godhead ; so that they are without excuse. 
Jer. x. 12. He hath made the earth by his 
power, he hath established the world by 
his wisdom, and hath stretched out the 
heavens by his discretion. Ps. civ. 24. 
Lord, how manifold are thy works ! in wis- 
dom hast thou made them all : the earth is 
full of thy riches. Ps. xxxiii. 5. He loveth 
righteousness and judgment : the earth is 
full of the goodness of the Lord. Ver. 6. 
By the word of the Lord were the heavens 
made ; and all the host of them by the 
briath of his mouth. 

c [The whole first Chapter of Gen.] Heb. 
xi. 3. Through faith we understand that 
the worlds were framed by the word of God ; 
so that things which are seen were not 
made of things which do appear. Col. i. 
16. For by him were all things created that 
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible 
and invisible, whether they be thrones, or 
dominions, or principalities, or powers ; all 
things were created by him, and for him. 
Acts xvii. 24. God, that made the world, 
and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord 
of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in tem- 
ples made with hands. 

II. d Gen. i. 27. So God created man in 
his own image : in the image of God created 
he him ; male and female created he them. 

e Gen. ii. 7. And the Lord God formed 
man of the dust of the ground, and breathed 
into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man 
became a living soul. With Eccl. xii. 7. 
Then shall the dust return to the earth as 
it was ; and the spirit shall return unto God 
who gave it. And Luke xxiii 43. And 



Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto 
thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 
And Matt. x. 28. And fear not them which 
kill the body, but are not able to kill the 
soul : but rather fear him which is able to 
destroy both soul and body in hell. 

f Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make 
man in our image, after our likeness ; and let 
them have dominion over the fish of the 
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over 
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over 
every creeping thing that creepeth upon 
the earth. Col. iii. 10. And have put on 
the new man, which is renewed in know- 
ledge after the image of him that created him. 
Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on the new 
man, which after God is created in righte- 
ousness and true holiness. 

s Eom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, 
which have not the law, do by nature the 
things contained in the law, these, having 
not the law, are a law unto themselves : Ver. 
1 5. Which shew the work of the law writ- 
ten in their hearts, their conscience also 
bearing witness, and their thoughts the 
mean while accusing or else excusing one 
another. 

h Eccl. viL 29. Lo, this only have I 
found, that God hath made man upright; 
but they have sought out many inven- 
tions. 

1 Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman saw 
that the tree was good for food, and that it 
was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be de- 
sired to make one wise, she took of the fruit 
thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her 
husband vnth her, and he did eat. Eccl. vii. 
29. [See letter h immediately foregoing.] 

* Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the know- 
ledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of 
it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof 
thou shalt surely die. Gen. iii. 8. And 
they heard the voice of the Lord God walk- 



CHAP. V. PROVIDENCE. 33 

were Happy in their communion with God, and had do- 
minion over the creatures. 1 



CHAP. V.— Of Providence. 



I. OD, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, a direct, 
VX dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things, b 
from the greatest even to the least, by his most wise and 
holy providence/ according to his infallible foreknowledge, 6 



ing in the garden in the cool of the day : 
and Adam and his "wife hid themselves from 
the presence of the Lord God amongst the 
trees of the garden. Ver. 9. And the 
Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto 
him, Where art thou ? Ver. 10. And he 
said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and 
I was afraid, because I was naked ; and I 
hid myself. Ver. 11. And he said, Who 
told thee that thou wast naked ? Hast 
thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded 
thee that thou shouldest not eat ? Ver. 
23. Therefore the Lord God sent him forth 
from the garden of Eden, to till the ground 
from whence he was taken. 

i Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make 
man in our image, after our likeness ; and 
let them have dominion over the fish of the 
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the 
cattle, and over all the earth, and over every 
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 
Ver. 28. And God blessed them : and God 
said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, 
and replenish the earth, and subdue it ; 
and have dominion over the fish of the sea, 
and over the fowl of the air, and over every 
living thing that moveth upon the earth. 

I. a Heb. i. 3. Who, being the bright- 
ness of his glory, and the express image of 
his person, and upholding all things by the 
word of his power, when he had by him- 
self purged our sins, sat down on the right 
hand of the Majesty on high. 

*> Dan. iv. 34. And at the end of the days 
I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto 
heaven, and mine understanding returned 
unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and 
I praised and honoured him that liveth 
for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting 
dominion, and his kingdom is from genera- 



tion to generation. Ver. 35. And all the 
inhabitants of the earth are reputed as 
nothing : and he doeth according to his will 
in the army of heaven, and among the in- 
habitants of the earth ; and none can stay 
his hand, or say unto him, What doest 
thou ? Ps. cxxxv. 6. Whatsoever the Lord 
pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, 
in the seas, and all deep places. Acts 
xvii. 25. Neither is worshipped with 
men's hands, as though he needed any 
thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, 
and all things ; Ver. 26. And hath made 
of one blood all nations of men for to dwell 
on all the face of the earth, and hath de- 
termined the times before appointed, and 
the bounds of their habitation: Ver. 28. For 
in him we live, and move, and have our being ; 
as certain also of your own poets have said, 
For we are also his offspring. Job, Chap- 
ters xxxviii., xxxix., xl., xli. 

c Matt. x. 29. Are not two sparrows sold 
for a farthing ? and one of them shall not 
fall on the ground without your Father. Ver. 
30. But the very hairs of your head are 
all numbered. Ver. 31. Fear ye not 
therefore, ye are of more value than many 
sparrows. 

d Prov. xv. 3. The eyes of the Lord are 
in every place, beholding the evil and the 
good. Ps. civ. 24. Lord, how manifold 
are thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made 
them all : the earth is full of thy riches. 
Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous in all 
his ways, and holy in all his works. 

e Acts xv. 18. Known unto God are all 
his works from the beginning of the world. 
Ps. xciv. 8. Understand, ye brutish among 
the people : and ye fools, when will ye be 
wise ? Ver. 9. He that planted the ear, 
shall he not hear ? he that formed the eye, 

c 



34 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. V. 



and the free and immutable counsel of his own will/ to the 
praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, good- 



ness, and mercy . g 



II. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree 
of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably 
and infallibly ; h yet, by the same providence, he ordereth 
them to fall out according to the nature of second causes, 
either necessarily, freely, or contingently. 1 

III. God in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, k 



shall he not see ? Ver. 10. He thatchas- 
tiseth the heathen, shall not he correct ? 
he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he 
know ? Ver. 11. The Lord hnoweth the 
thoughts of man, that they are vanity. 

f Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have ob- 
tained an inheritance, being predestinated 
according to the purpose of him who work- 
eth all things after the counsel of his own 
will. Ps. xxxiii. 10. The Lord bnngeth 
the counsel of the heathen to nought: he 
maketh the devices of the people of none 
effect. Ver. 11. The counsel of the Lord 
standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to 
all generations. 

g Isa. lxiii. 14. As a beast goeth down 
into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord 
caused him to rest ; so didst thou lead thy 
people, to make thyself a glorious name. 
Eph. iii. 10. To the intent that now, unto 
the principalities and powers in heavenly 
places, might be known by the church the 
manifold wisdom of God. Horn. ix. 17. 
For the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh, 
Even for this same purpose have I raised thee 
up, that I might shew my power in thee, and 
that my name might be declared through- 
out all the earth. Gen. xlv. 7. And God 
sent me before you to preserve you a pos- 
terity in the earth, and to save your lives 
by a great deliverance. Ps. cxlv. 7. They 
shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great 
goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 

II. h Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered 
by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge 
of God, ye have taken, and by wicked 
hands have crucified and slain. 

i Gen. viii. 22. While the earth remain- 
eth, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, 
and summer and winter, and day and night, 
shall not cease. Jer. xxxi. 35. Thus saith 
the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by 
day, and the ordinances of the moon and of 
the stars for a light by night, which divid- 
eth the sea when the waves thereof roar ; 
The Lord of hosts is his name. Exod. xxi. 
13. And if a man lie not in wait, but God 



deliver him into his hand; then I will ap- 
point thee a place whither he shall flee. 
With Deut. xix. 5. As when a man goeth 
into the wood with his neighbour to hew 
wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with 
the axe to cut down the tree, and the head 
slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his 
neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one 
of those cities, and live. 1 Kings xxii. 28. 
And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in 
peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me. And 
he said, Hearken, people, every one of 
you. Ver. 34. And a certain man drew a 
bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel 
between the joints of the harness : wherefore 
he said unto the driver of his chariot, 
Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the 
host ; for I am wounded. Isa. x. 6. I will 
send him against an hypocritical nation, and 
against the people of my wrath will I give 
him a charge, to take the spoil, and to 
take the prey, and to tread them down like 
the mire of the streets. Ver. 7. Eowbeit 
he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart 
think so ; but it is in his heart to destroy 
and cut off nations not a few. 

III. k Actsxxvii. 31. Paul said to the 
centurion and to the soldiers, Except these 
abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Ver. 44. 
And the rest, some on boards, and some on 
broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to 
pass, that they escaped all safe to land. Isa. 
lv. 10. For a,sthe raincometh down, and the 
snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, 
but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring 
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the 
sower, and bread to the eater; Ver. 11. So 
shall my word be that goeth forth out of 
my mouth : it shall not return unto me 
void ; but it shall accomplish that which I 
please, and it shall prosper in the thing 
whereto I sent it. Hos. ii. 21. And it shall 
come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith 
the Lord : / will hear the heavens, and they 
shall hear the earth; Ver. 22. And the earth 
shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; 
and they shall hear Jezreel. 



CHAP. V. 



PROVIDENCE. 



35 



yet is free to work without, 1 above,™ and against them, n at 
his pleasure. 

IV. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infi- 
nite goodness of God, so far manifest themselves in his pro- 
vidence, that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all 
other sins of angels and men, and that not by a bare per- 
mission/ but such as hath joined with it a most wise and 
powerful bounding, 11 and otherwise ordering and governing 
of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends; r 



i Hos. i. 7 . But I will have mercy upon 
the house of Judah, and will save them by the 
Lord their God, and will not save them by 
bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, 
nor by horsemen. Matt. iv. 4. But he an- 
swered and said, It is written, Man shall 
not live by bread alone, but by every word that 
proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Job 
xxxiv. 10. Therefore hearken unto me, ye 
men of understanding : Far be it from God, 
that he should do wickedness ; and from the 
Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 

m Rom. iv. 19. And being not weak in 
faith, he considered not his own body now 
dead, when he was about an hundred years 
old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 
Ver. 20. He staggered not at the promise 
of God through unbelief; but was strong in 
faith, giving glory to God; Ver. 21. And 
being fully persuaded, that what he had pro- 
mised, he was able also to perform. 

n 2 Kings vi. 6. And the man of God said, 
Where fell it ? And he shewed him the 
place. And he cut down a stick, and cast 
it in thither ; and the iron did swim. Dan. 
iii. 27. And the princes, governors, and cap- 
tains, and the king's counsellors, being ga- 
thered together, saw these men, upon whose 
bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair 
of their head singed, neither were their coats 
changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 

IV. ° Rom. xi. 32. For God hath con- 
cluded them all in unbelief, that he might 
have mercy upon all. Ver. 33. the depth 
of the riches both of the wisdom and know- 
ledge of God! how unsearchable are his judg- 
ments, and his ways past finding out! Ver. 34. 
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? 
or who hath been his counsellor ? 2 Sam. 
xxiv. 1 . And again the anger of the Lord 
was kindled against Israel, and he moved 
David against them to say, Go, number Is- 
rael and Judah. With 1 Chron. xxi. 1. 
And Satan stood up against Israel, and pro- 
voked David to number Israel. 1 Kings xxii. 
22. And the Lord said unto him, Where- 
with ? And he said, I will go forth, and I 



will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his 
prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade 
him, and prevail also : go forth, and do so. 
Ver. 23. Now therefore, behold, the Lord 
hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these 
thy prophets, ami the Lord hath spoken evil 
concerning thee. 1 Chron. x. 4. Then said 
Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, 
and thrust me through therewith, lest these 
uncircumcised come and abuse me. But 
his armour-bearer would not ; for he was 
sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell 
upon it. Ver. 13. So Saul died for his 
transgression which he committed against 
the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, 
which he kept not, and also for asking 
counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to 
enquire of it; Ver. 14. And enquired not 
of the Lord : therefore he slew him, and turned 
tlie kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. 
2 Sam. xvi. 10. And the king said, What 
have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah ? 
so let him curse, because the Lord hath said 
unto him, Curse David. Who shall then 
say, Wherefore hast thou done so ? Acts 
ii. 23. Him, being delivered by the determi- 
nate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye 
have taken, and by wicked hands have 
crucified and slain. Acts iv. 27. For of 
a truth, against thy holy child Jesus, 
whom thou hast anointed, both Herod 
and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and 
the people of Israel, were gathered to- 
gether, Ver. 28. For to do whatsoever thy 
hand and thy counsel determined before to 
be done. 

p Acts xiv. 16. Who in times past suffered 
all nations to walk in their own ways. 

i Ps. lxxvi. 10. Surely the wrath of man 
shall praise thee ; the remainder of wrath 
shalt thou restrain. 2 Kings xix. 28. Be- 
cause thy rage against me and thy tumult 
is come up into mine ears, therefore I will 
put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy 
lips, and I will turn thee back by the way 
by which thou earnest. 

* Gen. 1. 20. But as for you, ye thought 



3G 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. V. 



yet so as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the 
creature, and not from God; who, being most holy and 
righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of 
sin. s 

V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God, doth 
oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold 
temptations, and the corruption of their own hearts, to 
chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them 
the hidden strength of corruption, and deceitfulness of their 
hearts, that they may be humbled ;* and to raise them 
to a more close and constant dependence for their support 
upon himself, and to make them more watchful against all 
future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy 
ends. u 

evil against me ; but God meant it unto good, for the pride of his heart, (both he and the 
to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save inhabitants of Jerusalem,) so that the wrath 
much people alive. Isa. x. 6. I will send him of the Lord came not upon them in the days 
against an hypocritical nation, and against of Hezekiah. Ver. 31. Howbeit in the busi- 
the people of my wrath will I give him a ness of the ambassadors of the princes of 
charge, to take the spoil, and to take the Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of 
prey, and to tread them down like the mire the wonder that was done in the land, God 
of the streets. Ver. 7. Howbeit he meaneth left him, to try him, that he might know all 
not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it that was in his heart. 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. And 
is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations again the anger of the Lord was kindled 
not a few. Ver. 12. Wherefore it shall come against Israel, and he moved David against 
to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah. 
his whole work upon mount Zion and on u 2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should be ex- 
Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout alted above measure through the abundance 
heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of the revelations, there was given to me a 
of his high looks. thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to 

s James i. 13. Let no man say, when he buffet me, lest I should be exalted above mea- 
ls tempted, I am tempted of God : for God sure. Ver. 8. For this thing I besought the 
cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempt- Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 
eth he any man: Ver. 14. But every man is Ver. 9. And he said unto me, My grace is 
tempted, when he is drawn away of his own sufficient for thee; for my strength is made 
lust, and enticed. Ver. 17. Every good gift perfect in weakness. Most gladly there- 
and every perfect gift is from above, and com- fore will I rather glory in my infirmities, 
eth down from the Father of lights, with that the power of Christ may rest upon 
whom is no variableness, neither shadow of me. Ps. lxxiii. throughout. *Ps. lxxvii. 1. 
turning. 1 John ii. 16. For all that is in i~ cried unto God with my voice, even unto 
the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust God with my voice ; and he gave ear unto 
of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of me. Ver. 10. And I said, This is my in- 
the Father, but is of the world. Ps. 1. 21. firmity : but I will remember the years of 
These things hast thou done, and I kept the right hand of the Most High. Ver. 12. 
silence; thou thoughtest that I was alto- I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk 
gether such an one as thyself : but / will of thy doings. [Read the intermediate verses 
reprove thee, and set them in order before thine in the Bible.] Mark xiv. from the 66th 
eyes. verse to the end, with John xxi. 15. So, 

V. * 2 Chron. xxxii. 25. But Hezekiah when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon 
rendered not again according to the benefit Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me 
done unto him ; for his heart was lifted up : more than these ? He saith unto him, 
therefore there was wrath upon him, and Yea, Lord ; thou knowest that I love thee, 
upon Judah and Jerusalem. Ver. 26. Not- He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Ver. 
withstanding Hezekiah humbled himself 16. He saith to him again the second time, 



CHAP. V. 



PROVIDENCE. 



37 



VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men, whom God as 
a righteous judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden, x 
from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they 
might have been enlightened in their understandings, and 
wrought upon in their hearts; 7 but sometimes also with- 
draweth the gifts which they had, 2 and exposeth them to such 
objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin; a and withal, 
gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the 
world, and the power of Satan : b whereby it comes to pass, 
that they harden themselves, even under those means which 
God useth for the softening of others. 



Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me ? He 
saith unto him, Yea, Lord ; thou knowest 
that I love thee. He saith unto him, 
Feed my sheep. Ver. 17. He saith unto 
him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, 
lovest thou me ? Peter was grieved be- 
cause he said unto him the third time, 
Lovest thou me ? And he said unto him, 
Lord, thou knowest all things ; thou know- 
est that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, 
Feed my sheep. 

VI. * Rom. i. 24. Wherefore God also 
gave them up to uncleanness, through the 
lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour 
their own bodies between themselves. 
Ver. 26. For this cause God gave them up 
unto vile affections : for even their women 
did change the natural use into that which 
is against nature. Ver. 28. And even as 
they did not like to retain God in their 
knowledge, God gave them over to a repro- 
bate mind, to do those things which are 
not convenient. Eom. xi. 7. What then? 
Israel hath not obtained that which he 
seeketh for ; but the election hath obtain- 
ed it, and the rest were blinded, Ver. 8. 
(According as it is written, God hath given 
them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they 
should not see, and ears that they should 
not hear) unto this day. 

y Deut. xxix. 4. Yet the Lord hath not 
given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to 
< see, and ears to hear, unto this day. 

z Matt. xiii. 12. For whosoever hath, to 
him shall be given, and he shall have more 
abundance : but whosoever hath not, from 
him shall be taken away even that he hath. 
Matt. xxv. 29. For unto every one that 
hath shall be given, and he shall have 
abundance : but from him that hath not, 
shall be taken away even that which he hath. 

a Deut. ii. 30. But Sihon king of Hesh- 
bon would not let us pass by him : for the 
Lord thy God hardened his spirit, and made 



his heart obstinate, that he might deliver 
him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 
2 Kings viii. 12. And Hazael said, Why 
weepeth my lord ? And he answered, 
Because I know the evil that thou wilt 
do unto the children of Israel : their strong 
holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young 
men wilt thou slay with the sword, and 
wilt dash their children, and rip up their 
women with child. Ver. 13. And Hazael 
said, But what ! is thy servant a dog, that 
he should do this great thing ? And 
Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me 
that thou shalt be king over Syria. 

b Ps. lxxxi. 11. But my people would not 
hearken to my voice ; and Israel would 
none of me. Ver. 12. So i" gave them up 
unto their own hearts' lusts ; and they walk- 
ed in their own counsels. 2 Thess. ii. 10. 
And with all deceivableness of unrighte- 
ousness in them that perish ; because they 
received not the love of the truth, that 
they might be saved. Ver. 11. And for 
this cause God shall send them strong delu- 
sion, that they should believe a lie ; Ver. 
12. That they all might be damned who 
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in 
unrighteousness^ 

c Exod. vii. 3. And I will harden Pha- 
raoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my 
wonders in the land of Egypt. With Exod. 
viii. 15. But when Pharaoh saw that there 
was respite, he hardened his heart, and 
hearkened not unto them ; as the Lord had 
said. Ver. 32. And Pharaoh hardened his 
heart at this time also, neither would he 
let the people go. 2 Cor. ii. 15. For we 
are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in 
them that are saved, and in them that perish. 
Ver. 16. To the one we are the savour of 
death unto death; and to the other the savour 
of life unto life : and who is sufficient for 
these things ? Isa. viii. 14. And he shall 
be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stum- 



ss 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. VI. 



VII. As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to 
all creatures ; so, after a most special manner, it taketh care 
of his church, and disposeth all things to the good thereof. d 



CHAP. VI. — Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the 
Punishment thereof 

j # /^vTTR first parents being seduced by the subtilty and 
\J temptation of Satan, sinned in eating the forbidden 

fruit. a This their sin God was pleased, according to his wise 

and holy counsel, to permit, having purposed to order it to 

his own glory . b 

II. By this sin they fell from their original righteousness, 



bling, and for a rock of offence, to both the 
houses of Israel ; for a gin and for a snare 
to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 1 Pet. ii. 
7. Unto you therefore -which believe he is 
precious : but unto them which be disobe- 
dient, the stone which the builders disal- 
lowed, the same is made the head of the 
corner, Ver. 8. And a stone of stumbling 
and a rock of offence, even to them which 
stumble at the word, being disobedient ; 
vjhereunto also they were appointed. Isa. vi. 
9. And he said, Go, and tell this people, 
Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see 
ye indeed, but perceive not. Ver. 1 0. Make 
the heart of this people fat, and make their 
ears heavy, and shut their eyes ; lest they 
see with their eyes, and hear with their 
ears, and understand with their heart, and 
convert, and be healed. With Acts xxviii. 
26. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, 
Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not under- 
stand; and seeing ye shall see, and not 
perceive : Ver. 27. For the heart of this 
people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull 
of hearing, and their eyes have they clos- 
ed ; lest they should see with their eyes, 
and hear with their ears, and understand 
with their heart, and should be converted, 
and I should heal them. 

VII. d 1 Tim. iv. 10. For therefore we 
both labour and suffer reproach, because 
we trust in the living God, who is the 
Saviour of all men, specially of those that be- 
lieve. Amos ix. 8. Behold, the eyes of the 
Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, 
and I will destroy it from off the face of 



the earth ; saving that I will not utterly 
destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord. 
Ver. 9. For, lo, I will command, and / will 
sift the house of Israel among all nations, 
like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall 
not the least grain fall upon the earth. Rom. 
viii. 28. And we know that all things work 
together for good to them that love God, to 
them who are the called according to his 
purpose. Isa. xliii. 3. For I am the Lord 
thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savi- 
our; I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia 
and Seba for thee. Ver. 4. Since thou wast 
precious in my sight, thou hast been hon- 
ourable, and I have loved thee : therefore 
will / give men for t?iee, and people for thy 
life. Ver. 5. Fear not ; for / am with 
thee : I will bring thy seed from the east, 
and gather thee from the west. Ver. 14. 
Thus saith the Lord, your Redeemer, the 
Holy One of Israel, For your sake I have 
sent to Babylon, and have brought down all 
their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is 
in the ships. 

I. a Gen. iii. 13. And the Lord God said 
unto the woman, What is this that thou 
hast done ? And the woman said, The 
serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 2 Cor. 
xi. 3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the 
serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so 
your minds should be corrupted from the 
simplicity that is in Christ. 

b Bom. xi. 32. For God hath concluded 
them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy 
upon all. 



CHAP. VI. 



THE FALL OF MAN, ETC. 



39 



and communion with God/ and so became dead in sin/ and 
wholly denied in all the faculties and parts of soul and body. 6 
III. They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this 
sin was imputed/ and the same death in sin and corrupted 

II. Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman his own image : in the image of God cre- 
saw that the tree was good for food, and ated he him ; male and female created he 
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree them. Ver. 28. And God blessed them : 
to be desired to make one wise, she took and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and 
of the fruit thereof, and did eat ; and gave multiply, and replenish the earth, and sub- 
also unto her husband with her, and he due it ; and have dominion over the fish 
did eat. Ver. 7. And the eyes of them of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, 
both were opened, and they knew that they and over every living thing that moveth 
were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves to- upon the earth. And Gen. ii. 16. And the 
gether, and made themselves aprons. Ver. Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of 
8. And they heard the voice of the Lord every tree of the garden thou mayest freely 
God walking in the garden in the cool of eat ; Ver. 17. But of the tree of theknow- 
the day : and Adam and his wife hid them- ledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat 
selves from the presence of the Lord God of it : for in the day that thou eatest 
amongst the trees of the garden. Eccl. thereof thou shalt surely die. And Acts 
vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that xvii. 26. And hath made of one blood all 
God hath made man upright; but they have nations of men for to dwell on all the face 
sought out many inventions. Rom. iii. 23. of the earth, and hath determined the 
For all have sinned, and come short of the times before appointed, and the bounds 
glory of God. of their habitation. With Rom. v. 12. 

a Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into 

knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not the world, and death by sin ; and so death 

eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. 

thereof thou shalt surely die. Eph. ii. 1. Ver. 15. But not as the offence, so also is 

And you hath he quickened, who were the free gift. For if through the offence 

dead in trespasses and sins. of one many be dead; much more the grace 

e Tit. i. 15. Unto the pure all things are of God, and the gift by grace, which is by 

pure : but unto them that are defiled and one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto 

unbelieving is nothing pure; but even many. Ver. 16. And not as it was by owe 

their mind and conscience is defiled. Gen. that sinned, so is the gift : for the judgment 

vi. 5. And God saw that the wickedness of was by one to condemnation, but the free gift 

man was great in the earth, and that every is of many offences unto justification. Ver. 

imagination of the thoughts of his heart was 17. For if by one man' s offence death reigned 

only evil continually. Jer. xvii. 9. The by one; much more they which receive 

heart is deceitful above all things, and des- abundance of grace, and of the gift of 

perately wicked : who can know it ? Rom. righteousness, shall reign in life by one, 

iii. 10. As it is written, There is none Jesus Christ. Ver. 18. Therefore, as by 

righteous, no, not one: Ver. 11. There is the offence of one judgment came upon all men 

none that understandeth, there is none that to condemnation ; even so by the righte- 

seeketh after God. Ver. 12. They are all ousness of one the free gift came upon all 

gone out of the way, they are together be- men unto justification of life. Ver. 19. 

come unprofitable; there is none that doeth For as by one man's disobedience many were 

good, no, not one. Ver. 13. Their throat made sinners; so by the obedience of one 

is an open sepulchre: with their tongues shall many be made righteous. And 1 

they have used deceit : the poison of Cor. xv. 21. For since by man came death, 

asps is under their lips : Ver. 14. Whose by man came also the resurrection of the 

mouth is full of cursing and bitterness : dead. Ver. 22. For as in Adam all die, 

Ver. 15. Their feet are swift to shed even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 

blood: Ver. 16. Destruction and misery *Ver. 45. And so it is written, The first 

are in their ways : Ver. 17. And the man Adam was made a living soul, the last 

way of peace have they not known : Ver. Adam was made a quickening spirit. 

18. There is no fear of God before their *Ver. 49. And as we have borne the image 

eyes. of the earthy, we shall also bear the image 

III. f Gen. i. 27. So God created man in of the heavenly. 



40 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. VI. 



nature conveyed to all their posterity, descending from them 
by ordinary generation. 2 

IV. From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly 
indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, h and 
wholly inclined to all evil, 1 do proceed all actual transgres- 
sions. 151 

V. This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain 
in those that are regenerated: 1 and although it be through 
Christ pardoned and mortified, yet both itself, and all the 
motions thereof, are truly and properly sin. m 



e Ps. li. 5. Behold, I was shapen in ini- 
quity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 
Gen. v. 3. And Adam lived an hundred 
and thirty years, and begat a son in his own 
likeness, after his image; and called his 
name Seth. Job xiv. 4. Who can bring a 
clean thing out of an unclean ? not one. 
Job xv. 14. What is man, that he should 
be clean ? and he which is born of a woman, 
that he should be righteous ? 

IV. h Kom. v. 6. For when we were yet 
without strength, in due time Christ died for 
the ungodly. Eom. viii 7. Because the 
carnal mind is enmity against God; for it 
is not subject to the law of God, neither in- 
deed can be. Rom. vii. 18. For I know 
that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no 
good thing : for to will is present with me ; 
but how to perform that which is good I find 
not. Col. i. 21. And you, that were some- 
time alienated, and enemies in your mind by 
wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. 

i Gen. vi. 5. And God saw that the 
wickedness of man was great in the earth, 
and that every imagination of the thoughts 
of his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 
viii. 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet 
savour ; and the Lord said in his heart, I 
will not again curse the ground any more 
for man's sake ; for tJie imagination of man's 
heart is evil from his youth : neither will I 
again smite any more every thing living, 
as I have done. Eom. iii. 10. As it is 
written, There is none righteous, no, not 
one : Ver. 11. There is none that under- 
standeth, there is none that seelceth after 
God. Ver. 12. They are all gone out of 
the way, they are together become unprofit- 
able; there is none that doeth good, no not 
one. 

k James i. 14. But every man is tempted, 
when he is drawn away of his own lust, and 
enticed. Ver. 15. Then, when lust hath 
conceived, it bringeth forth sin ; and sin, 
when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 



Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past, ye walked 
according to the course of this world, accord- 
ing to the prince of the power of the air, 
the spirit that now worketh in the chil- 
dren of disobedience : Ver. 3. Among 
whom also we all had our conversation in 
times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling 
the desires of the flesh and of the mind ; and 
were by nature the children of wrath, even 
as others. Matt. xv. 19. For out of the 
heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adul- 
teries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blas- 
phemies. 

V. i 1 John i. 8. If we say that we have 
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth 
is not in us. Ver. 10. If we say that we 
have not sinned, we make him a liar, and 
his word is not in us. Eom. vii. 14. For 
we know that the law is spiritual ; but / 
am carnal, sold under sin. Ver. 17. Now 
then, it is no more I that do it, but sin 
that dwelleth in me. Ver. 18. For I know 
that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no 
good thing : for to will is present with me ; 
but how to perform that which is good I find 
not. Ver. 23. But I see another law in my 
members warring against the law of my 
mind, and bringing me into captivity to the 
lau> of sin which is in my members. James 
iii. 2. For in many things we offend all. 
If any man offend not in word, the same 
is a perfect man, and able also to bridle 
the whole body. Prov. xx. 9. Who can 
say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure 
from my sin ? Eccl. vii. 20. For there is 
not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, 
and sinneth not. 

m Rom. vii. 5. For when we were in the 
flesh, the motions of sins, which were by 
the law, did work in our members to bring 
forth fruit unto death. Ver. 7. What shall 
we say then ? Is the law sin ? God for- 
bid. Nay, I had not known sin but by the 
law : for I had not known lust, except the 
laiv had said, Thou shalt not covet. Ver. 



CHAP. VII. 



GOD'S COVENANT WITH MAN. 



41 



VI. Every sin, both original and actual, being a trans- 
gression of the righteous law of God, and contrary there- 
unto, 11 doth, in its own nature, bring guilt upon the sinner, 
whereby he is bound over to the wrath of God, p and curse 
of the law, q and so made subject to death/ with all miseries 
spiritual, 8 temporal,' and eternal. u 



CHAP. VII.— Of God's Covenant with Man. 

I. HP HE distance between God and the creature is so great, 
J. that although reasonable creatures do owe obedience 
unto him as their Creator, yet they could never have any 
fruition of him as their blessedness and reward, but by some 
voluntary condescension on God's part, which he hath been 
pleased to express by way of covenant.* 

8. But sin, taking occasion by the com- works of the law are under the curse : for 
mandment, wrought in me all manner of it is written, Cursed is every one that con- 
concupiscence. For without the laiv sin was tinueth not in all things which are written 
dead. Ver. 25. I thank God, through in the book of the law to do them. 
Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the r Bom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is 
mind I myself serve the law of God, but death ; but the gift of God is eternal life 
with the flesh the law of sin. Gal. v. 17 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and s Eph. iv. 18. Having the understanding 
the Spirit against the flesh : and these are darkened, being alienated from the life of God 
contrary the one to the other ; so that ye through the ignorance that is in them, be- 
cannot do the things that ye would. cause of the blindness of their heart. 

VI. n 1 John iii. 4. Whosoever com- * Eom. viii. 20. For the creature was 
mitteth sin transgresseth also the law : for made subject to vanity, not willingly, but 
sin is the transgression of the law. by reason of him who hath subjected the 

o Eom. ii. 15. Which shew the work of same in hope. Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore 
the law written in their hearts, their con- doth a living man complain, a man for the- 
science also bearing witness, and their punishment of his sins ? 
thoughts the mean while accusing or else u Matt. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also 
excusing one another. Eom. iii. 9. What unto them on the left hand, Depart from 
then ? are we better than they ? No, in me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared 
no wise : for we have before proved both for the devil and his angels. 2 Thess. i. 
Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under 9. Who shall be punished with everlasting 
sin. Ver. 19. Now we know, that what destruction from the presence of the Lord, 
things soever the law saith, it saith to them and from the glory of his power, 
who are under the law ; that every mouth 

may be stopped, and all the world may be- I. a Isa. xl. 13. Who hath directed the 
come guilty before God. Spirit of the Lord, or, being his counsellor, 

p Eph. ii. 3. Among whom also we all hath taught him ? Ver. 14. With whom 
had our conversation in times past in the took he counsel, and who instructed him, 
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of and taught him in the path of judgment, 
the flesh and of the mind ; and were by and taught him knowledge, and shewed to 
nature the children of wrath, even as others, him the way of understanding ? Ver. 15. 

<i Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, 



42 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. VII. 



II. The first covenant made with man was a covenant of 
works, b wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to 
his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedi- 
ence. d 

III. Man by his fall having made himself incapable of life 
by that covenant, the Lord was pleased to make a second, 6 
commonly called the Covenant of Grace : whereby he freely 
offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, re- 
quiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved ; f and 



and are counted as the small dust of the 
balance : behold, he taketh up the isles as 
a very little thing. Ver. 16. And Lebanon 
is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof 
sufficient for a burnt-offering. Ver. 17. All 
nations before him are as nothing; and they 
are counted to him less than nothing, and 
vanity. Job ix. 32. For he is not a man, 
as I am, that I should answer him, and we 
should come together in judgment. Ver. 33. 
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, 
that might lay his hand upon us both. 1 
Sam. ii. 25. If one man sin against another, 
the judge shall judge him ; but if a man sin 
against the Lord, who shall entreat for him ? 
Ps. cxiii. 5. Who is like unto the Lord our 
God, who dwelleth on high, Ver. 6. Who 
humbleth himself to behold the things that are 
in heaven, and in the earth ! Ps. c. 2. 
Serve the Lord with gladness ; come before 
his presence with singing. Ver. 3. Know 
ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that 
hath made us, and not we ourselves : we are 
his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 
Job xxii. 2. Can a man be profitable unto 
God, as he that is wise may be profitable 
unto himself ? Ver. 3. Is it any pleasure 
to the Almighty, that thou art righteous ? 
or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy 
ways perfect ? Job xxxv. 7. If thou be 
righteous, what givest thou him ? or what 
receiveth he of thine hand ? Ver. 8. Thy 
wickedness may hurt a man as thou art, 
and thy righteousness may profit the son 
of man. Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, 
when ye shall have done all those things 
which are commanded you, say, We are 
unprofitable servants: we have done that 
which was our duty to do. Acts xvii. 24. 
God, that made the world, and all things 
therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven 
and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with 
hands; Ver. 25. Neither is worshipped 
with men's hands, as though he needed any 
thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and 
breath, and all things. 

II. ^ Gal. iii. 12. And the law is not of 



faith : but, The man that doeth them shall 
live in them. 

c Rom. x. 5. For Moses describeth the 
righteousness which is of the law, That the 
man which doeth those things shall live by 
them. Rom. v. 12 to 20. [See Chap. vi. 
Sect. 3. letter f .] 

d Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the 
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not 
eat of it : for in the day that thou eatest 
thereof thou shalt surely die. Gal. iii. 10. 
For as many as are of the works of the law 
are under the curse : For it is written, 
Cursed is every one that continueth not in 
all things which are written in the book 
of the law to do them. 

III. e Gal. iii. 21. Is the law then against 
the promises of God ? God forbid : for if 
there had been a law given which could 
have given life, verily righteousness should 
have been by the law. Rom. viii. 3. For 
what the law could not do, in that it was 
weak through the flesh, God sending his own 
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for 
sin condemned sin in the flesh. Rom. iii. 
20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there 
shall no flesh be justified in his sight, for by 
the law is the knowledge of sin. Ver. 21. 
But now the righteousness of God without 
the law is manifested, being witnessed by 
the law and the prophets. Gen. iii. 15. 
And I will put enmity between thee and 
the woman, and between thy seed and her 
seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou 
shalt bruise his heel. Isa. xlii. 6. I the 
Lord have called thee in righteousness, and 
will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, 
and give thee for a covenant of the people, for 
a light of the Gentiles. 

f Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto them, 
Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
gospel to every creature. Ver. 16. He 
that believeth, and is baptised, shall be saved; 
but he that believeth not shall be damned. 
John iii. 16. For God so loved the world, 
that he gave his only begotten Son, that 
whosoever believeth in him, should not 



CHAP. VII. 



GOD'S COVENANT WITH MAN. 



43 



promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto life 
his Holy Spirit, to make them willing and able to believer 

IY. This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in the 
scripture by the name of a Testament, in reference to the 
death of Jesus Christ the testator, and to the everlasting 
inheritance, with all things belonging to it, therein be- 
queathed. 11 

Y. This covenant was differently administered in the time 
of the law, and in the time of the gospel ;* under the law it 
was administered by promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circum- 
cision, the paschal lamb, and other types and ordinances 
delivered to the people of the Jews, all foresignifying Christ 
to come, k which were for that time sufficient and efficacious, 
through the operation of the spirit, to instruct and build up 



perish, but have everlasting life. Rom. x. 
6. But the righteousness which is of faith 
speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine 
heart, Who shall ascend into heaven ? (that 
is, to bring Christ down from above.) Ver. 
9. That if thou shalt confess with thy 
mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in 
thine heart that God hath raised him from 
the dead, thou shalt be saved. Gal. iii. 11. 
But that no man is justified by the law in 
the sight of God, it is evident : for, The 
just shall live by faith. 

e Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will 
I give you, and a new spirit will I put within 
you ; and I will take away the stony heart 
out of your flesh, and I will give you an 
heart of flesh. Ver. 27. And I will put my 
Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in 
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, 
and do them. John vi. 44. No man can 
come to me, except the Father, which hath 
sent me, draw him : and I will raise him 
up at the last day. Ver. 45. It is written 
in the prophets, And they shall be all taught 
of God. Every man therefore that hath 
heard, and hath learned of the Father, 
cometh unto me. 

IV. h Heb. ix. 15. And for this cause he 
is the mediator of the new testament, that 
by means of death, for the redemption of 
the transgressions that were under the first 
testament, they which are called might re- 
ceive the promise of eternal inheritance. Ver. 
16. For where a testament is, there must 
also of necessity be the death of the testator. 
Ver. 17. For a testament is of force after 
men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength 
at all while the testator liveth. Heb. vii. 22. 
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a 



better testament. Luke xxii. 20. Likewise 
also the cup after supper, saying, This cup 
is the new testament in my blood, which is 
shed for you. 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the 
same manner also he took the cup, when 
he had supped, saying, This cup is the new 
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as 
ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

V. * 2 Cor. iii. 6. Who also hath made 
us able ministers of the new testament ; not 
of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter 
killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Ver. 7. 
But if the ministration of death, written 
and engraven in stones, was glorious, so 
that the children of Israel could not stead- 
fastly behold the face of Moses for the 
glory of his countenance ; which glory was 
to be done away ; Ver. 8. How shall not 
the ministration of the Spirit be rather glo- 
rious ? Ver. 9. For if the ministration of 
condemnation be glory, much more doth 
the ministration of righteousness exceed in 
glory. 

k (Heb. Chapters viii., ix., x.) Rom. iv. 
11. And he received the sign of circum- 
cision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith 
which he had yet being uncircumcised : 
that he might be the father of all them 
that believe, though they be not circum- 
cised ; that righteousness might be im- 
puted unto them also. Col. ii. 11. In whom 
also ye are circumcised with the circum- 
cision made without hands, in putting off the 
body of the sins of the flesh by the circum- 
cision of Christ ; Ver. 12. Buried with him 
in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with 
him through the faith of the operation of 
God, who hath raised him from the dead. 
1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the old 



44 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. VII. 



the elect in faith in the promised Messiah/ by whom they 
had full remission of sins, and eternal salvation ; and is called 
the Old Testament, 111 

VI. Under the gospel, when Christ the substance 11 was ex- 
hibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed 
are the preaching of the word, and the administration of the 
sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which, though 
fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity and 
less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more ful- 
ness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy/ to all nations, both 



leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye 
are unleavened. For even Christ our pass- 
over is sacrificed for us. 

1 1 Cor. x. 1. Moreover, brethren, I 
would not that ye should be ignorant, how 
that all our fathers were under the cloud, 
and all passed through the sea ; Ver. 2. 
And were all baptized unto Moses in the 
cloud and in the sea ; Ver. 3. And did all 
eat the same spiritual meat; Yer. 4. And 
did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for 
they drank of that spiritual Rock that fol- 
lowed them; and that Rock was Christ.) 
Heb. xi. 13. These all died in faith, not 
having received the promises, but having 
seen them afar off, and were persuaded of 
them, and embraced them, and confessed that 
they were strangers and pilgrims on the 
earth. John viii. 56. Your father Abra- 
ham rejoiced to see my day ; and he saw 
it, and was glad. 

m Gal. iii. 7. Know ye therefore, that 
they which are of faith, the same are the 
children of Abraham. Yer. 8. And the 
scripture, foreseeing that God would justify 
the heathen through faith, preached before 
the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee 
shall all nations be blessed. Ver. 9. So then 
they which be of faith are blessed with 
faithful Abraham. Yer. 14. That the 
blessing of Abraham might come on the 
Gentiles through Jesus Christ ; that we 
might receive the promise of the Spirit 
through faith. 

VI. i Col. ii. 17. Which are a shadow 
of things to come; but the body is of 
Christ. 

o Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost. Ver. 20 Teaching them to 
observe all things whatsoever I have com- 
manded you : and, lo, I am with you al- 
way, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 
1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the 
Lord that which also I delivered unto you, 



That the Lord Jesus, the same night in 
which he was betrayed, took bread: Ver. 
24. And, when he had given thanks, he 
brake it, and said, Take, eat ; this is my 
body, which is broken for you : this do in 
remembrance of me. Ver. 25. After the 
same manner also he took the cup, when he 
had supped, saying, This cup is the new tes- 
tament in my blood : this do ye, as oft as 
ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

p Heb. xii. 22. But ye are come unto 
mount Sion, and unto the city of the living 
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an in- 
numerable company of angels. Ver. 23. 
To the general assembly and church of the 
first-born, which are written in heaven, 
and to God the Judge of all, and to the 
spirits of just men made perfect, Ver. 24. 
And to Jesus the mediator of the new co- 
venant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that 
speaketh better things than that of Abel. 
Ver. 25. See that ye refuse not him that 
speaketh : for if they escaped not who re- 
fused him that spake on earth, much more 
shall not we escape, if we turn away from 
him that speaketh from heaven; Ver. 26. 
Whose voice then shook the earth : but now 
he hath promised, saying, Yet once more 
I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 
Ver. 27. And this word, Yet once more, 
signifieth the removing of those things that 
are shaken, as of things that are made, that 
those things which cannot be shaken may 
remain. Jer. xxxi. 33. But this shall be 
the covenant that I will make with the 
house of Israel ; After those days, saith the 
Lord, I will put my Law in their inward parts, 
and write it in their hearts ; and will be 
their God, and they shall be my people. 
Ver. 34. And they shall teach no more 
every man his neighbour, and every man 
his brother, saying, Know the Lord : for 
they shall all know me, from the least of them 
unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord : 
for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will 
remember their sin no more. 



CHAP. VIII. 



CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 



45 



Jews and Gentiles ; q and is called the New Testament. 1 
There are not therefore two covenants of grace differing in 
substance, but one and the same under various dispensations. 3 



CHAP. VIII.— Of Christ the Mediator. 



I. TT pleased Grod, in his eternal purpose, to choose and 
JL ordain the Lord J esus, his only begotten Son, to be the 
Mediator between Grod and man ; a the Prophet, b Priest, and 

i Matt, xxviii. 19. [See letter ° imme- 
diately foregoing.'] Eph. ii. 15. Having 
abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the 
law of commandments contained in ordin- 
ances ; for to make in himself of twain one 
neiv man, so making peace ; Ver. 16. And 
that he might reconcile both unto God in 
one body by the cross, having slain the 
enmity thereby ; Ver. 17. And came and 
preached peace to you which were afar off, 
and to them that were nigh. Ver. 18. For 
through him we both have an access by one 
Spirit unto the Father. Ver. 19. Now 
therefore ye are no more strangers and 
foreigners, but fellow -citizens with the saints, 
and of the household of God. 

r Luke xxii. 20. Likewise also the cup 
after supper, saying, This cup is the new 
testament in my blood, which is shed for 

you. 

s Gal. iii. 14. That the blessing of Abra- 
ham might come on the Gentiles through 
Jesus Christ ; that we might receive the 
promise of the Spirit through faith. Ver. 
16. Now to Abraham and his seed were 
the promises made. He saith not, And to 
seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy 
seed, which is Christ. Acts xv. 11. But we 
believe that, through the grace of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. 
Eom. iii. 21. But now the righteousness of 
God without the law is manifested, being wit- 
nessed by the law and the prophets ; Ver. 
22. Even the righteousness of God which is 
by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon 
all them that believe; for there is no differ- 
ence: Ver. 23. For all have sinned, and 
come short of the glory of God. Ver. 80. 
Seeing it is one God which shall justify the 
circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision 
through faith. Ps. xxxii. 1. Blessed is he 
whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is 
covered. With Rom. iv. 3. For what saith 
the scripture ? Abraham believed God, and 



it was counted unto him for righteousness. 
Ver. 6. Even as David also describeth the 
blessedness of the man, unto whom God 
imputeth righteousness without works. Ver. 
16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might 
be by grace ; to the end the promise might 
be sure to all the seed : not to that only 
which is of the law, but to that also which 
is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father 
of us all, Ver. 17 . (As it is written, I have 
made thee a father of many nations,) before 
him whom he believed, even God, who 
quickeneth the dead, and calleth those 
things which be not as though they were. 
Ver. 23. Now, it was not written for his 
sake alone, that it was imputed to him ; 
Ver. 24. But for us also, to whom it shall 
be imputed, if we believe on him that 
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. 
Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Christ the same yester- 
day, and to-day, and for ever. 

I. a Isa. xlii. 1. Behold my servant, whom 
I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul de- 
lighteth : / have put my Spirit upon him ; 
he shall bring forth judgment to t he Gentiles. 
1 Pet. i. 19. But with the precious blood of 
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and 
without spot : Ver. 20. Who verily was 
foreordained before the foundation of the 
world, but was manifest in these last times 
for you. John iii. 16. For God so loved 
the world, that he gave his only begotten 
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should 
not perish, but have everlasting life. 1 
Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one 
mediator between God and men, the man 
Christ Jesus. 

b Acts iii. 22. For Moses truly said unto 
the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your 
God raise up unto you of your brethren, like 
unto me; him shall ye hear in all things 
whatsoever he shall say unto you. 

c Heb. v. 5. So also Christ glorified not 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. VIII. 



King ; d the Head and Saviour of his Church ; e the Heir of 
all things ; f and Judge of the world ; s unto whom he did 
from all eternity give a people to be his seed/ and to be by 
him in time redeemed, called, justified, sanctified, and 
glorified. 1 

II. The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, 
being very and eternal God, of one substance, and equal 
with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, 
take upon him man's nature, k with all the essential pro- 
perties and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; 1 
being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the 
womb of the Virgin Mary, of her substance." 1 So that two 



himself to be made an high-priest; but he 
that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to- 
day have I begotten thee, Ver. 6. As he 
saith also in another place, Thou art a 
priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. 

a Ps. ii. 6. Yet have 1 set my King upon 
my holy hill of Zion. Luke i. 33. And he 
shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; 
and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 

e Eph. v. 23. For the husband is the head 
of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the 
church; and he is the saviour of the body. 

f Heb. i. 2. Hath in these last days 
spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath 
appointed heir of all things, by whom also 
he made the worlds. 

g Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath ap- 
pointed a day, in the which he will judge 
the world in righteousness by that man whom 
he hath ordained; whereof he hath given 
assurance unto all men, in that he hath 
raised him from the dead. 

b John xvii. 6. I have manifested thy 
name unto the men which thou gavestmeout 
of the world : thine they were, and thou 
gavest them me ; and they have kept thy 
word. Ps. xxii. 30. A seed shall serve him; 
it shall be accounted to the Lord for a ge- 
neration. Isa. liii. 10. Yet it pleased the 
Lord to bruise him ; he hath put him to 
grief : when thou shalt make his soul an 
offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall 
prolong his days, and the pleasure of the 
Lord shall prosper in his hand. 

i 1 Tim. ii. 6. Who gave himself a ran- 
som for all, to be testified in due time. Isa. 
lv. 4. Behold, I have given him for a wit- 
ness to the people, a leader and commander 
to the people. Ver. 5. Behold, thou shalt 
call a nation that thou knowest not ; and na- 
tions that knew not thee shall run unto thee, 
because of the Lord thy God, and for the 
Holy One of Israel ; for he hath glorified 



thee. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in 
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us 
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, 
and redemption. 

II. k John i. 1 . Tn the beginning was the 
Word, and the Word was with God, and 
the Word was God. Ver. 14. And the 
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, 
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of 
the only begotten of the Father,) full of 
grace and truth. 1 John v. 20. And we 
know that the Son of God is come, and hath 
given us an understanding, that we may 
know him that is true ; and we are in him 
that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. 
This is the true God, and eternal life. Phil, 
ii. 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought 
it not robbery to be equal with God. Gal. 
iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time was 
come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, 
made under the law. 

1 Heb. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as the 
children are partakers of flesh and blood, 
he also himself likewise took part of the same; 
that through death he might destroy him 
that had the power of death, that is, the 
devil. Ver. 16. For verily he took not on 
him the nature of angels ; but he took on 
him the seed of Abraham. Ver. 17. Where- 
fore in all things it behoved him to be made 
like unto his brethren, that he might be a 
merciful and faithful high-priest in things 
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation 
for the sins of the people. Heb. iv. 15. 
For we have not an high-priest which can- 
not be touched with the feeling of our infir- 
mities ; but was in all points tempted like as 
we are, yet without sin. 

m Luke i. 27. To a virgin espoused to a 
man, whose name was Joseph, of the house 
of David ; and the virgin's name was Mary. 
Ver. 31. And, behold, thou shalt conceive 
in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and 



CHAP. VIII. CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 



-17 



whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the 
manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, 
without conversion, composition, or confusion. 11 Which per- 
son is very God and very man, yet one Christ, the only 
Mediator between God and man. 

III. The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to 
the divine, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit 
above measure ; p having in him all the treasures of wisdom 
and knowledge ; q in whom it pleased the Father that all ful- 
ness should dwell : r to the end, that being holy, harmless, 
undefiled, and full of grace and truth/ he might be thoroughly 
furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety.' 
Which office he took not unto himself, but was thereunto 
called by his Father; 11 who put all power and judgment into 
his hand, and gave him commandment to execute the same. x 



shalt call his name JESUS. Ver. 35. And 
the angel answered and said unto her, The 
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and. the 
power of the Highest shall overshadow thee : 
therefore also that holy thing, which shall 
be born of thee, shall be called the Son of 
God. Gal. iv. 4. [See letter k immediately 
foregoing.] 

n Luke i. 35. [See the foregoing verse.] 
Col. ii. 9. For in him dwelleth all the ful- 
ness of the Godhead bodily. Rom. ix. 5 
Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as 
concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over 
all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 1 Pet. iii. 
18. For Christ also hath once suffered for 
sins, the just for the unjust, that he might 
bring us to God, being put to death in 
the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. 1 Tim. 
iii. 16. And, without controversy, great is 
the mystery of godliness : God was manifest 
in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of 
angels, preached unto the Gentiles, be- 
lieved on in the world, received up into 
glory. 

Rom. i. 3. Concerning his Son, Jesus 
Christ our Lord, which was made of the 
seed of David according to the flesh, Ver. 4. 
And declared to be the Son of God with 
power, according to the Spirit of holiness, 
by the resurrection from the dead. 1 Tim. 
ii. 5. For there is one God, and one media- 
tor between God and men, the man Christ 
Jesus. 

III. p Ps. xlv. 7. Thou lovest righteous- 
ness, and hatest wickedness : therefore 
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the 
oil of gladness above thy fellows. John iii. 
34. For he whom God hath sent speaketh 



the words of God : for God giveih not the 
Spirit by measure unto him. 

i Col. ii. 3. In whom are hid all the trea- 
sures of wisdom and knowledge. 

* Col. i. 19. For it pleased the Father, that 
in him should all fulness dwell. 

s Heb. vii. 26. For such an high priest 
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, 
separate from sinners, and made higher than 
the heavens. John i. 14. And the Word 
was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and 
we beheld his glory, the glory as of the 
only begotten of the Father,) full of grace 
and truth. 

t Acts x. 38. How God anointed Jesus of 
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with 
power ; who went about doing good, and 
healing all that were oppressed of the devil: 
for God was with him. Heb. xii. 24. And 
to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, 
and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh 
better things than that of Abel. Heb. vii. 
22. By so much was Jesus made a surety 
of a better testament. 

u Heb. v. 4. And no man taketh this hon- 
our unto himself, but he that is called of 
God, as was Aaron. Ver. 5. So also 
Christ glorified not himself to be made an 
high priest; but he that said unto him, 
Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten 
thee. 

x John v. 22. For the Father judgeth 
no man, but hath committed all judgment 
unto the Son :" Ver. 27. And hath given 
him authority to execute judgment also, be- 
cause he is the Son of man. Matt, xxviii. 
18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, 
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven 



43 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. VIII. 



IY. This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly under- 
take; 7 which that he may discharge, he was made under the 
law/ and did perfectly fulfil it; a endured most grievous tor- 
ments immediately in his soul, b and most painful sufferings 
in his body; was crucified, and died; d was buried, and re- 
mained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption. 6 
On the third day he arose from the dead/ with the same 
body in which he suffered ; s with which also he ascended 
into heaven, and there sitteth at the right hand of his 



and in earth. Acts ii. 36. Therefore let 
all the house of Israel know assuredly, 
that God hath made that same Jesus, whom 
ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

IV. y Ps.xl. 7. Then said I, Lo, I come: 
in the volume of the book it is written of 
me, Ver. 8. I delight to do thy will, my 
God; yea, thy law is within my heart. 
With Heb. x. 5. Wherefore, when he 
cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice 
and offering thou wouldest not, but a body 
hast thou prepared me : Ver. 6. In burnt- 
offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast 
had no pleasure : Ver. 7. Then said I, 
Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is 
written of me) to do thy will, God. Ver. 
8. Above, when he said, Sacrifice, and 
offering, and burnt-offerings, and offering 
for sin, thou wouldest not, neither hadst 
pleasure therein; (which are offered by 
the law ;) Ver. 9. Then said he, Lo, L 
come to do thy will, God. He taketh 
away the first, that he may establish the 
second. Ver. 10. By the which will we 
are sanctified, through the offering of the 
body of Jesus Christ once for all. John 
x. 18. No man taketh it from me, but / 
lay it down of myself: I have power to lay 
it down, and I have power to take it again. 
This commandment have I received of my 
Father. Phil. ii. 8. And being found in 
fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and 
became obedient unto death, even the 
death of the cross. 

z Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of 
the time was come, God sent forth his Son, 
made of a woman, made under the law. 

a Matt. iii. 15. And Jesus answering, 
said unto him, Suffer it to be so now ; for 
thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. 
Then he suffered him. Matt. v. 17. Think 
not that I am come to destroy the law or 
the prophets : I am not come to destroy, 
but to fulfil. 

b Matt. xxvi. 37. And he took with him 
Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and be- 
gan to be sorrowful and very heavy. Ver. 



38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is 
exceeding sorrowful, even unto death : tarry 
ye here, and watch with me. Luke xxii. 
44. And, being in an agony, he prayed 
more earnestly : and his sweet was as it 
were great drops of blood falling down to 
the ground. Matt, xxvii. 46. And about 
the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud 
voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani ? 
that is to say, My God, my God, why hast 
thou forsaken me? 

c Matt. Chapters xxvi. and xxvii. 

d Phil. ii. 8. [See the last scripture in y 
immediately foregoing.'] 

e Acts ii. 23. Him, being delivered by 
the determinate counsel and foreknowledge 
of God, ye have taken, and by wicked 
hands have crucified and slain; Ver. 24. 
Whom God hath raised up, having loosed 
the pains of death : because it was not 
possible that he should be holden of it. Ver. 
27. Because thou wilt not leave my soul in 
hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One 
to see corruption. And Acts xiii. 37. But 
he, whom God raised again, saw no corrup- 
tion. Rom. vi. 9. Knowing that Christ, 
being raised from the dead, dieth no more ; 
death hath no more dominion over him. 

f 1 Cor. xv. 3. For I delivered unto you 
first of all that which I also received, how 
that Christ died for our sins according to 
the scriptures ; Ver. 4. And that he was 
buried, and that he rose again the third day 
according to the scriptures ; *Ver. 5. And 
that he was seen of Cephas, then of the 
twelve. 

g John xx. 25. The other disciples there- 
fore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. 
But he said unto them, Except I shall see 
in his hands the print of the nails, and put 
my finger into the print of the nails, and 
thrust my hand into his side, I will not 
believe. Ver. 27. Then saith he to 
Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and be- 
hold my hands ; and reach hither thy hand, 
and thrust it into my side : and be not 
faithless, but believing. 



CHAP. VIIL CHRIST THE MEDIATOR. 49 



Father/ 1 making intercession; 1 and shall return to judge 
men and angels at the end of the world. k 

Y. The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience and sacrifice 
of himself, which he through the eternal Spirit once offered 
up unto G od, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father ; 1 
and purchased not only reconciliation, but an everlasting in- 
heritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the 
Father hath given unto him. m 

VI. Although the work of redemption was not actually 
wrought by Christ till after his incarnation, yet the virtue, 
efficacy, and benefits thereof, were communicated unto the 
elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, 
in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein he 



fa Mark xvi. 19. So then, after the 
Lord had spoken unto them, he was re- 
ceived up into heaven, and sat on the right 
hand of God. 

iRom. viii. 34. Who is he that con- 
demneth ? It is Christ that died, yea 
rather, that is risen again, who is even at 
the right hand of God, who also 'maketh in- 
tercession for us. Heb. ix. 24. For Christ 
is not entered into the holy places made 
with hands, which are the figures of the 
true ; but into heaven itself, now to appear 
in the presence of God for us. Heb. vii. 25. 
Wherefore he is able also to save them to 
the uttermost that come unto God by him, 
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession 
for them. 

Rom. xiv. 9. For to this end Christ 
both died, and rose, and revived, that he 
might be Lord both of the dead and living. 
Ver. 10. But why dost thou judge thy 
brother ? or why dost thou set at nought 
thy brother ? for we shall all stand before 
the judgment-seat of Christ. Acts i. 11. 
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why 
stand ye gazing up into heaven ? this same 
Jesus, which is taken up from you into 
heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye 
have seen him go into heaven. Acts x. 
42. And he commanded us to preach unto 
the people, and to testify that it is he 
which was ordained of God to be the Judge 
of quick and dead. Matt. xiii. 40. As 
therefore the tares are gathered and burn- 
ed in the fire ; so shall it be in the end of 
this world. Ver. 41. The Son of man shall 
send forth his angels, and they shall gather 
out of his kingdom all things that oftend, 
and them which do iniquity. Ver. 42. 
And shall cast them into a furnace of fire : 
there shall be wailing and gnashing of 



teeth. Jude, ver. 6. And the angels which 
kept not their first estate, but left their 
own habitation, he hath reserved in ever- 
lasting chains, under darkness, unto the 
judgment of the great day. 2 Peter ii. 4. 
For if God spared not the angels that sin- 
ned, but cast them down to hell, and de- 
livered them into chains of darkness, to be 
reserved unto judgment. 

V. 1 Rom. v. 19. For as by one man's 
disobedience many were made sinners ; so 
by the obedience of one shall many be made 
righteous. Heb. ix. 14. How much more 
shall the blood of Christ, who through the 
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot 
to God, purge your conscience from dead 
works, to serve the living God 1 Ver. 16. 
For where a testament is, there must also 
of necessity be the death of the testator. Heb. 
x. 14. For by one offering he hath perfected 
for ever them that are sanctified. Eph. v. 
2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath 
loved us, and hath given himself for us an 
offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet- 
smelling savour. Rom. iii. 25. Whom God 
hath set forth to be a propitiation through 
faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- 
ness for the remission of sins that are past, 
through the forbearance of God; Ver. 26. 
To declare, I say, at this time his righte- 
ousness ; that he might be just, and the 
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

m Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are de- 
termined upon thy people, and upon thy 
holy city, to finish the transgression, and to 
make an end of sins, and to make reconci- 
liation for iniquity, and to bring in ever- 
lasting righteousness, and to seal up the vi- 
sion and prophecy, and to anoint the most 
holy. Ver. 26. And after threescore and 
two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not 



60 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. VIII. 



was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the woman, 
which should bruise the serpent's head, and the Lamb slain 
from the beginning of the world, being yesterday and to-day 
the same, and for ever. n 

VII. Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to 
both natures ; by each nature doing that which is proper to 
itself: yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which 
is proper to one nature is sometimes in scripture attributed 
to the person denominated by the other nature. p 

VIII. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased re- 
demption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and com- 
municate the same; q making intercession for them ; r and 



for himself: and the people of the prince 
that shall come shall destroy the city and 
the sanctuary ; and the end thereof shall 
be with a flood, and unto the end of the 
war desolations are determined. Col. i. 19. 
For it pleased the Father that in him should 
all fulness dwell : Ver. 20. And (having 
made peace through the blood of his cross), 
by him to reconcile all things unto himself ; 
by him, I say, whether they be things in 
earth, or things in heaven. Eph. i. 11. 
In whom also we have obtained an inheri- 
tance, being predestinated according to the 
purpose of him who worketh all things 
after the counsel of his own will. Ver. 
14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance, 
until the redemption of the purchased pos- 
session, unto the praise of his glory. John 
xvii. 2. As thou hast given him power 
over all flesh, that he should give eternal 
life to as many as thou hast given him. Heb. 
ix. 12. Neither by the blood of goats and 
calves, but by his own blood, he entered 
in once into the holy place, having obtained 
eternal redemption for us. Ver. 15. And 
for this cause he is the mediator of the 
new testament, that by means of death, 
for the redemption of the transgressions 
that were under the first testament, they 
which are called might receive the promise of 
eternal inheritance. 

VI. n Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness 
of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, 
made of a woman, made under the law, 
Ver. 5. To redeem them that were under 
the law, that we might receive the adoption 
of sons. Gen. iii. 15. And I will put en- 
mity between thee and the woman, and 
between thy seed and her seed: it shall 
bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his 
heel. Eev. xiii. 8. And all that dwell 
upon the earth shall worship him, whose 
names are not written in the book of life 



of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the 
world. Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Christ the same 
yesterday, and to-day, and for ever. 

VII. Heb. ix. 14. [See letter \ scripture 
the second.] 1 Pet. iii. 18. For Christ also 
hath once suffered for sins, the just for the 
unjust, that he might bring us to God, 
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened 
by the Spirit. 

p Acts xx. 28. Take heed therefore unto 
yourselves, and to all the flock over the 
which the Holy Ghost hath made you over- 
seers, to feed the church of God, which he 
hath purchased with his own blood. John 
iii. 13. And no man hath ascended up to 
heaven, but he that came down from heaven, 
even the Son of man which is in heaven. 
1 John iii. 16. Hereby perceive we the love 
of God, because he laid down his life for us : 
and we ought to lay down our lives for the 
brethren. 

VIII. i Johnvi. 37. All that the Father 
giveth me shall come to me : and him that 
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 
Ver. 39. And this is the Father's will 
which hath sent me, that of all which he 
hath given me I should lose nothing, but 
should raise it up again at the last day. 
John x. 15. As the Father knoweth me, 
even so know I the Father : and I lay down 
my life for the sheep. Ver. 16. And other 
sheep I have, which are not of this fold : 
them also I must bring, and they shall hear 
my voice; and there shall be one fold, and 
one shepherd. 

r 1 John ii. 1. My little children, these 
things write I unto you, that ye sin not. 
And if any man sin, we have an advocate 
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : 
Ver. 2. And he is the propitiation for our 
sins ; and not for ours only, but also for 
the sins of the whole world. Horn. viii. 34. 
Who is he that condemneth ? It is Christ 



CHAP. IX. 



FREE WILL. 



61 



revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of 
salvation; 8 effectually persuading them by his Spirit to be- 
lieve and obey ; and governing their hearts by his word and 
Spirit;* overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power 
and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most conson- 
ant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation. 11 



CHAP. IX.— Of Free Will 



L OD hath endued the will of man with that natural 
fjT liberty, that it is neither forced, nor by any ab- 
solute necessity of nature determined, to good or evil. a 

Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and 



that died, yea rather, that is risen again, 
•who is even at the right hand of God, who 
also maketh intercession for us. 
■ s John xv. 1 3. Greater love hath no man 
than this, that a man lay down his life for 
his friends. Ver. 15. Henceforth I call 
you not servants ; for the servant knoweth 
not what his lord doeth : but I have called 
you friends ; for all things that I have heard 
of my Father 1 have made known unto you. 
Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption 
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, 
according to the riches of his grace ; Ver. 
8. Wherein he hath abounded toward us 
in all wisdom and prudence ; Ver. 9. Hav- 
ing made known unto us the mystery of his 
will, according to his good pleasure which 
he hath purposed in himself. John xvii. 
6. I have manifested thy name unto the men 
which thou gavest me out of the world : 
thine they were, and thou gavest them me ; 
and they have kept thy word. 

* John xiv. 16. And I will pray the 
Father, and he shall give you another Com- 
forter, that he may abide with you for ever. 
Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the author 
and finisher of our faith; who, for the joy 
that was set before him, endured the cross, 
despising the shame, and is set down at the 
right hand of the throne of God. 2 Cor. 
iv. 13. We having the same spirit of faith, 
according as it is written, I believed, and 
therefore have I spoken ; we also believe, 
and therefore speak. Eom. viii. 9. But ye 
are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so 
be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, 



if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, 
he is none of his. Ver. 14. For as many 
as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the 
sons of God. Eom. xv. 18. For I will not 
dare to speak of any of those things which 
Christ hath not wrought by me, to make 
the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 
Ver. 19. Through mighty signs and won- 
ders, by the power of the Spirit of God ; so 
that from Jerusalem, and round about unto 
Illyi icum, I have fully preached the gospel 
of Christ. John xvii. 17. Sanctify them 
through thy truth : thy word is truth. 

u Ps. ex. 1. The Lord said unto my 
Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I 
make thine enemies thy footstool. 1 Cor. xv. 
25. For he must reign, till he hath put all 
enemies under his feet. Ver. 26. The last 
enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 
Mai. iv. 2. But unto you that fear my name 
shall the Sun of righteousness arise with 
healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, 
and groTv up as calves of the stall. Ver. 
3. ,And ye shall tread down the wicked; for 
they shall be ashes under the soles of your 
feet, in the day that I shall do this, saith 
the Lord of hosts. Col. ii. 1 5. And, hav- 
ing spoiled principalities andpowers.he made 
a shew of them openly, triumphing over them 
in it. 

I. a Matt. xvii. 12. But I say unto you, 
That Elias is come already, and they knew 
him not, but have done unto him whatsoever 
they listed: likewise shall also the Son of 
man suffer of them. James i. 14. But 



52 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. IX. 



power to will and to do that which is good and well-pleasing 
to God ; b but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it. c 

III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost 
all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salva- 
tion ; d so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that 
good, 6 and dead in sin/ is not able, by his own strength, to 
convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. g 

IV. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into 
the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage 
under sin, h and by his grace alone enables him freely to will 



every man is tempted, when he is drawn 
away of his own lust, and enticed. Deut. 
xxx. 19. I call heaven and earth to record 
this day against you, that I have set he- 
fore you life and death, blessing and curs- 
ing : therefore choose life, that both thou 
and thy seed may live. 

II. b Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I 
found, that God hath made man upright; 
but they have sought out many inventions. 
Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make 
man in our image, after our likeness; and let 
them have dominion over the fish of the 
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over 
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over 
every creeping thing that creepeth upon 
the earth. 

c Gen. ii. 16. And the Lord God com- 
manded the man, saying, Of every tree of 
the garden thou mayest freely eat ; Ver. 
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of 
good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in 
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt 
surely die. Gen. iii. 6. And when the wo- 
man saw that the tree was good for food, 
and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and 
a tree to be desired to make one wise, she 
took of the fruit thereof and did eat; and gave 
also unto her husband with her, and he did 
eat. 

III. d Rom. v. 6. For when we were 
yet without strength, in due time Christ 
died for the ungodly. Rom. viii. 7. Be- 
cause the carnal mind is enmity against 
God : for it is not subject to the law of God, 
neither indeed can be. John xv. 5. I am the 
vine, ye are the branches : he that abideth 
in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth 
much fruit ; for without me ye can do no- 
thing. 

e Rom. iii. 10. As it is written, There is 
none righteous, no, not one. Ver. 12. They 
are all gone out of the way, they are toge- 
ther become unprofitable ; there is none 
that doeth good, no, not one. 

f Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened, 



who were dead in trespasses and sins. Ver. 
5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath 
quickened us together with Christ ; (by 
grace ye are saved.) Col. ii. 13. And you, 
being dead in your sins and the uncircum- 
cision of your flesh, hath he quickened to- 
gether with him, having forgiven you all 
trespasses. 

g John vi. 44. No man can come to me, 
except the Father, which hath sent me, draw 
him: and I will raise him up at the last 
day. Ver. 65. And he said, Therefore 
said I unto you, that no man can come unto 
me, except it were given unto him of my 
Father. Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past 
ye walked according to the course of this world, 
according to the prince of the power of the 
air, the spirit that now worketh in the 
children of disobedience : Ver. 3. Among 
whom also we all had our conversation in 
times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfil- 
ling the desires of the flesh and of the mind ; 
and were by nature the children of wrath, 
even as others. Ver. 4. But God, who is 
rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith 
he loved us. Ver. 5. Even when we were 
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with 
Christ ; (by grace ye are saved.) 1 Cor. ii. 
14. But the natural man receiveth not the 
things of the Spirit of God: for they are 
foolishness unto him ; neither can he know 
them, because they are spiritually discerned. 
Tit. iii . 1 3. For we ourselves also were some- 
times foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving 
divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice 
and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 
Ver. 4. But after that the kindness and 
love of God our Saviour toward man ap- 
peared, Ver. 5. Not by works of righteous- 
ness which we have done, but according to 
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of 
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

IV. h Col. i. 13. Who hath delivered us 
from the power of darkness, and hath trans- 
lated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. 
John viii. 34. Jesus answered them, Verily, 



CHAP. X. EFFECTUAL CALLING. 63 

and to do that which is spiritually good ;* yet so as that, by 
reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly nor 
only will that which is good, but doth also will that which is 
evil k 

V. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably 
free to do good alone in the state of glory only. 1 



CHAP. X.— Of Effectual Calling. 



\ 9 i LL those whom God hath predestinated unto life, ancL 
ii. those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and ac- 
cepted time, effectually to call, a by his word and Spirit, 5 out 
of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, 



verily, I say unto you, Whosoever com- 
mitteth sin is the servant of sin. Ver. 36. 
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye 
shall be free indeed. 

> Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which worketh 
in you, both to will and to do of his good 
pleasure. Eom. vi. 18. Being then made 
free from sin, ye became the servants of 
righteousness. Ver. 22. But now, being 
made free from sin, and become servants to 
God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and 
the end everlasting life. 

k Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against 
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : 
and these are contrary the one to the other ; 
so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 
Eom. vii. 15. For that which I do I allow 
not; for what I would, that do I not ; but 
what I hate that do I. Ver. 18. For I know 
that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no 
good thing: for to will is present with me ; 
but how to perform that which is good I find 
not. Ver. 19. For the good that I would I 
do not: but the evil which 1 would not, that 
I do. Ver. 21 . I find then a law, that, 
when I would do good, evil is present with me. 
Ver. 23. But I see another law in my mem- 
bers warring against the law of my mind, and 
bringing me into captivity to the law of sin 
which is in my members. 

V. 1 Eph. iv. 1 3. Till we all come in the 
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge 
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto 
the measure of the stature of the fulness of 
Christ. Heb. xii. 23. To the general as- 
sembly and church of the first-born, which 



are written in heaven, and to God the 
Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men 
made perfect. 1 John. iii. 2. Beloved, now 
are we the sons of God ; and it doth not 
yet appear what we shall be : but we know 
that, when he shall appear, we shall be like 
him; for we shall see him as he is. Jude, 
ver. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep 
you from falling, and to present you fault- 
less before the presence of his glory with ex- 
ceeding joy. 

I. a Bom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he 
did predestinate, them he also called; and 
whom he called, them he also justified ; 
and whom he justified, them he also glori- 
fied. Rom. xi. 7. What then ? Israel 
hath not obtained that which he seeketh 
for ; but the election hath obtained it, and 
the rest were blinded. Eph. i. 10. That 
in the dispensation of the fulness of times, 
he might gather together in one all things in 
Christ, both which are in heaven, and which 
are on earth, even in him; Ver. 11. In 
whom also we have obtained an inheritance, 
being predestinated according to the pur- 
pose of him who worketh all things after 
the counsel of his own will. 

b 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to 
give thanks alway to God for you, breth- 
ren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath 
from the beginning chosen you to salvation 
through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief 
of the truth : Ver. 14. Whereunto he called 
you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the 
glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 



54 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. X. 



to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ; enlightening their 
minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of 
God ; d taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto 
them an heart of flesh; 6 renewing their wills, and by his 
almighty power determining them to that which is good ; f 
and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; 8 yet so as 
they come most freely, being made willing by his grace. h 
II. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace 



iii. 3. Forasmuch as ye are manifestly 
declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered 
by us, written not with ink, but with the 
Spirit of the living God ; not in tables of 
stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. 
Yer. 6. Who also hath made us able min- 
isters of the new testament ; not of the let- 
ter, but of the spirit ; for the letter killeth, 
but the spirit giveth life. 

c Eom. viii. 2. For the law of the Spirit 
of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free 
from the law of sin and death. Eph. ii. 1. 
And you hath he quickened who were dead 
in trespasses and sins ; Ver. 2. Wherein 
in time past ye walked according to the 
course of this world, according to the prince 
of the power of the air, the spirit that now 
worketh in the children of disobedience : 
Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our 
conversation in times past in the lusts of our 
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and 
of the mind ; and were by nature the chil- 
dren of wrath, even as others. Ver. 4. 
But God, who is rich in mercy y for his great 
love wherewith he loved us, Ver. 5. Even 
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened 
us together with Christ ; (by grace ye are 
saved.) 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us, 
and called us with an holy calling, not ac- 
cording to our works, but according to his 
own purpose and grace, which was given 
us in Christ Jesus before the world began ; 
Ver. 10. But is now made manifest by the 
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who 
hath abolished death, and hath brought life 
and immortality to light through the gos- 
pel. 

d Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and 
to turn them from darkness to light, and from 
the power of Satan unto God, that they 
may receive forgiveness of sins, and in- 
heritance among them which are sanctified 
by faith that is in me. 1 Cor. ii. 1 0. But 
God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit ; 
for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the 
deep things of God. Ver. 12. Now we 
have received, not the spirit of the world, 
but the spirit which is of God; that we might 



know the things that are freely given to us 
of God. Eph. i. 17. That the God of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, 
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and 
revelation in the knowledge of him : Ver. 
18. The eyes of your understanding being 
enlightened; that ye may know what is the 
hope of his calling, and what the riches of 
the glory of his inheritance in the saints. 

e Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will 
I give you, and a new spirit will I put 
within you ; and I will take away the stony 
heart out of your flesh, and I will give you 
an heart of flesh. 

f Ezek. xi. 19. And I will give them one 
heart, and I will put a new spirit within 
you ; and I will take the stony heart out 
of their flesh, and will give them an heart 
of flesh. Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which 
worketh in you, both to wzVZand to do of his 
good pleasure. Deut. xxx. 6. And the 
Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, 
and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord 
thy God with all thine heart, and with all 
thy soul, that thou mayest live. Ezek. 
xxxvi. 27. And I will^w^ my Spirit within 
you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, 
and ye shall keep my judgments, and do 
them. 

s Eph. i. 19. And what is the exceeding 
greatness of his power to usward who believe, 
according to the working of his mighty power. 
John vi. 44. No man can come to me, ex- 
cept the Father, which hath sent me, draw 
him : and I will raise him up at the last 
day. Ver. 45. It is written in the pro- 
phets, And they shall be all taught of God. 
Every man therefore that hath heard, and 
hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 

h Cant. i. 4. Draw me, we will run after 
thee. Ps. ex. 3. Thy people shall be willing 
in the day of thy power, in the beauties of 
holiness from the womb of the morning : 
thou hast the dew of thy youth. John vi. 
37. All that the Father giveth me shall 
come to me : and him that cometh to me I 
will in no wise cast out. Bom. vi. 16. 
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield your- 



CHAP. X. 



EFFECTUAL CALLING. 



55 



alone, not from any thing at all foreseen in man ;* who is al- 
together passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed 
by the Holy Spirit/ he is thereby enabled to answer this 
call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. 1 

III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and 
saved by Christ through the Spirit, m who worketh when, 
and where, and how he pleaseth. n So also are all other elect 
persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the 
ministry of the word. 

IY. Others not elected, although they may be called by 



selves servants to obey, his servants ye are 
to whom ye obey ; whether of sin unto 
death, or of obedience unto righteousness ? 
Ver. 17. But God be thanked, that ye were 
the servants of sin; but ye have obeyed 
from the heart that form of doctrine which 
was delivered you. Ver. 18. Being then 
made free from sin, ye became the servants 
of righteousness. 

II. i 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us, 
and called us with an holy calling, not ac- 
cording to our works, but according to his 
own purpose and grace, which was given us 
in Christ Jesus before the world began. 
Tit. iii. 4. But after that the kindness and 
love of God our Saviour toward man ap- 
peared, Ver. 5. Not by ivorks of righteous- 
ness which we have done, but according to his 
mercy he saved us, by the washing of re- 
generation, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost. Eph. ii. 4. But God, who is rich 
in mercy, for his great love wherewith he 
loved us, Ver. 5. Even when we were dead 
in sins, hath quickened us together with 
Christ ; (by grace ye are saved). Ver. 8. 
For by grace are ye saved through faith ; 
and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of 
God : Ver. 9. Not of works, lest any man 
should boast. Rom. ix. 11. For the chil- 
dren being not yet born, neither having 
done any good or evil, that the purpose of 
God according to election might stand, not 
of works, but of him that calleth. 

k 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man re- 
ceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God : 
for they are foolishness unto him ; neither 
can he know them, because they are spiri- 
tually discerned. Rom. viii. 7. Because 
the carnal mind is enmity against God : 
for it is not subject to the law of God, neither 
indeed can be. Eph. ii. 5. Even when we 
were dead in sins, hath quickened us to- 
gether with Christ ; (by grace ye are 
saved.) 

1 John vi. 37. All that the Father giveth 
me shall come to me : and him that cometh 



to me I will in no wise cast out. Ezek. 
xxxvi. 27. And I will put my Spirit with- 
in you, and cause you to walk in my sta- 
tutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and 
do them. John v. 25. Verily, verily, I 
say unto you, The hour is coming, and now 
is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the 
Son of God; and they that hear shall 
live. 

III. m Luke xviii. 15. And they brought 
unto him also infants, that he would touch 
them : but when his disciples saw it, they 
rebuked them. Ver. 16. But Jesus called 
them unto him, and said, Suffer little chil- 
dren to come unto me, and forbid them not : 
for of such is the kingdom of God. And 
Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, 
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in 
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission 
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the 
Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. For the promise is 
unto you, and to your children, and to all 
that are afar off, even as many as the Lord 
our God shall call. And John iii. 3. Jesus 
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, 
he cannot see the kingdom of God. Ver. 5. 
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto 
thee, Except a man be born of water, and of 
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom 
of God. And 1 John v. 12. He that hath 
the Son hath life; and he that hath not the 
Son of God hath not life. And Rom. viii. 
9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the 
Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell 
in you. Now, if any man have not the 
Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [Com- 
pared together.'] 

n John iii. 8. The wind bloweth where it 
listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, 
but canst not tell whence it cometh, and 
whither it goeth : so is every one that is born 
of the Spirit. 

o 1 John v. 12. He that hath the Son hath 
life; and he that hath not the Son of God 
hath not life. Acts iv. 12. Neither is there 



58 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XI. 



the ministry of the word/ and may have some common ope- 
rations of the Spirit/ yet they never truly come unto Christ, 
and therefore cannot be saved : r much less can men not pro- 
fessing the Christian religion be saved in any other way 
whatsoever, be they ever so diligent to frame their lives ac- 
cording to the light of nature, and the law of that religion 
they do profess; 8 and to assert and maintain that they may, 
is very pernicious, and to be detested.' 



CHAP. XI. — Of Justification. 



I. rPHOSE whom God effectually calleth he also freely 
-L justifieth; a not by infusing righteousness into them, 



salvation in any other : for there is none other 
name under heaven given among men where- 
by we must be saved. 

IV. p Matt. xxii. 14. For many are called, 
but few are chosen. 

i Matt. vii. 22. Many will say to me 
in that day, Lord, Lord, have vje not 
prophesied in thy name ? and in thy name 
have cast out devils ? and in thy name done- 
many wonderful works ? Matt. xiii. 20. 
But he that received the seed into stony 
places, the same is he that heareth the 
word, and anon with joy receiveth it : Ver. 
21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but 
dureth for a while ; for when tribulation 
or persecution ariseth because of the word, 
by and by he is offended. Heb. vi. 4. For 
it is impossible for those who were once en- 
lightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, 
and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 
Ver. 5. And have tasted the good word of 
God, and the powers of the world to come. 

r John vi. 64. But there are some of you 
that believe not. For Jesus knew from the 
beginning who they were that believed not, 
and who should betray him. Ver. 65. And 
he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no 
man can come unto me, except it were 
given unto him of my Father. Ver. 66. 
From that time many of his disciples went 
back, and walked no more with him. John 
viii. 24. I said therefore unto you, that ye 
shall die in your sins ; for if ye believe not 
that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

s Acts iv. 1 2. Neither is there salvation in 
any other : for tJiere is none other name under 
heaven given among men whereby we must be 



saved. Johnxiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, 
I am the way, and the truth, and the life : 
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 
Eph. ii. 12. That at that time ye were 
without Christ, being aliens from the common- 
wealth of Israel, and strangers from the co- 
venants of promise, having no hope, and 
without God in the world. ° John iv. 22. 
Ye worship ye know not what ; we know 
what we worship : for salvation is of the 
Jews. John xvii. 3. And this is life eter- 
nal, that they might know thee the only true 
God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast 
sent. 

t 2 John, ver. 9. Whosoever transgress- 
eth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, 
hath not God : he that abideth in the doc- 
trine of Christ, he hath both the Father and 
the Son. Ver. 10. If there come any unto 
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him 
not into your house, neither bid him God 
speed : Ver. 11. For he that biddeth him 
God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 1 
Cor. xvi. 22. If any man love not the Lord 
Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Mara- 
natha. Gral. i. 6. I marvel that ye are so 
soon removed from him that called you into 
the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 
Ver. 7. Which is not another : but there be 
some that trouble you, and would pervert 
the gospel of Christ. Ver. 8. But though 
we, or an angel from heaven, preach any 
other gospel unto you than that which we 
have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

I. a Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he 
did predestinate, them he also called ; and 



CHAP. XI. 



JUSTIFICATION. 



57 



but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accept- 
ing their persons as righteous: not for any thing wrought in 
them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone: not by 
imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evan- 
gelical obedience, to them as their righteousness; but by im- 
puting the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, b 
they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by 
faith: which faith they have not of themselves; it is the gift 
of God. c 

II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his 

whom he called, them he also justified; and to the riches of his grace. Jer. xxiii. 6. 

whom he justified, them he also glorified. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel 

Eom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by his shall dwell safely ; and this is his name 

grace, through the redemption that is in whereby he shall be called, THE LORD 

Christ Jesus. OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 1 Cor. i.30. 

t> Rom. iv. 5. But to him that worketh , But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of 
not, but believeth on him that justifieth the Cod is made unto us wisdom, and righteous- 
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness, ness, and sanctification, and redemption : Ver. 
Ver. 6. Even as David also describeth the 31. That, according as it is written, He 
blessedness of the man, unto whom Cod that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, 
imputeth righteousness without works, Ver. Eom. v. 17. For if by one man's offence 

7. Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities death reigned by one; much more they 
are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Ver. which receive abundance of grace, and of 

8. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life 
will not impute sin. 2 Cor. v. 19. To wit, by one, Jesus Christ : Ver. 18. Therefore, 
that God was in Christ, reconciling the as by the offence of one judgment came 
world unto himself, not imputing their tres- upon all men to condemnation ; even so by 
passes unto them : and hath committed the righteousness of one the free gift came 
unto us the word of reconciliation. Ver. upon all men unto justification of life. Ver. 

21. For he hath made him to be sin for us, 19- For as by one man's disobedience 
who knew no sin ; that we might be made many were made sinners ; so by the obedi- 
the righteousness of God in him. Rom. iii. ence of one shall many be made righteous. 

22. Even the righteousness of God, which is Acts x. 44. While Peter yet spake 
by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them 
all them that believe; for there is no differ- which heard the word. Gal. ii. 16. Know- 
ence. Ver. 24. Being justified freely by ing that a man is not justified by the works 
his grace, through the redemption that is in of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, 
Christ Jesus ; Ver. 25. Whom God hath even we have believed in Jesus Christ, 
set forth to be a propitiation through faith that we might be justified by the faith of 
in his blood, to declare his righteousness for Christ, and not by the works of the law : 
the remission of sins that are past, through for by the works of the law shall no flesh 
the forbearance of God ; Ver. 27. Where be justified. Phil. iii. 9. And be found in 
is boasting then ? It is excluded. By what him, not having mine own righteousness, 
law? of works? Nay; but by the law of which is of the law, but that which is 
faith. Ver. 28. Therefore we conclude, through the faith of Christ, the righteous- 
that a man is justified by faith without the ness which is of God by faith. Acts xiii. 
deeds of the law. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works 38. Be it known unto you, therefore, men 
of righteousness which we have done, but ac- and brethren, that through this man is 
cording to his mercy he saved us, by the preached unto you the forgiveness of sins ; 
washing of regeneration, and renewing of Ver. 39. And by him all that believe are 
the Holy Ghost ; Ver. 7. That, being jus- justified from all things, from which ye 
tified by his grace, we should be made heirs could not be justified by the law of Moses, 
according to the hope of eternal life. Eph. Eph. ii. 7. That in the ages to come he 
i. 7. In whom we have redemption through might shew the exceeding riches of his grace, 
his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according in his kindness toward us through Christ 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XI. 



righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;* yet 
is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accom- 
panied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but 
worketh by love. 6 

III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge 
the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a 
proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father's justice in 
their behalf/ Yet, in as much as he was given by the Father 
for them/ and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their 
stead, h and both freely, not for any thing in them, their jus- 



Jesus. Ver. 8. For by grace are ye saved 
through faith; and that not of yourselves : 
it is the gift of God. 

II. d John i. 12. But as many as received 
him, to them' gave he power to become the sons 
of God, even to them that believe on his 
name. Kom. iii. 28. Therefore we con- 
clude, that a man is justified by faith with- 
out the deeds of the law. Eom. v. 1. 
Therefore, being justified by faith, we have 
peace with God through our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

e James ii. 17. Even so faith, if it hath 
not works, is dead, being alone. Ver. 22. 
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, 
and by works was faith made perfect ? Ver. 
26. For as the body without the spirit is 
dead, so faith without works is dead also. 
GaL v. 6. For in Jesus Christ neither cir- 
cumcision availeth any thing, nor uncir- 
cumcision ; but faith which worketh by love. 

III. f Kom. v. 8. But God commend eth 
his love toward us, in that, while we were yet 
sinners, Christ died for us. Ver. 9. Much 
more then, being now justified by his blood, 
we shall be saved from wrath through him. 
Ver. 10. For if, when we were enemies, 
we were reconciled to God by the death of 
his Son ; much more, being reconciled, we 
shall be saved by his life. Ver. 19. For as 
by one man's disobedience many were 
made sinners ; so by the obedience of one 
shall many be made righteous. 1 Tim. ii. 
5. For there is one God, and one mediator 
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 
Ver. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, 
to be testified in due time. Heb. x. 10. 
By the which will we are sanctified, through 
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once 
for all. Ver. 14. For by one offering he 
hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 
Dan. ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined 
upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, 
to finish the transgression, and to make an 
end of sins, and to make reconciliation for 



iniquity, and to bring in everlasting right- 
eousness, and to seal up the vision and pro- 
phecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Ver. 
26. And after threescore and two weeks 
shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 
and the people of the prince that shall come 
shall destroy the city and the sanctuary ; 
and the end thereof shall be with a flood, 
and unto the end of the war desolations 
are determined. Isa. liii. 4. Surely he hath 
borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: 
yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of 
God, and afflicted. Ver. 5. But he was 
woundedfor our transgressions, he was bruised 
for our iniquities : the chastisement of our 
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we 
are healed. Ver. 6. All we, like sheep, have 
gone astray ; we have turned every one to 
his own way ; and the Lord hath laid on him 
the iniquity of us all. Ver. 10. Yet it 
pleased tlie Lord to bruise him; he hath put 
him to grief : when thou shalt make his soul 
an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he 
shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of 
the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Ver. 
11. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and 
shall be satisfied : by his knowledge shall 
my righteous servant justify many ; for he 
shall bear their iniquities. Ver. 12. There- 
fore will I divide him a portion with the 
great, and he shall divide the spoil with the 
strong ; because he hath poured out his soul 
unto death: and he was numbered with the 
transgressors ; and he bare the sin of many, 
and made intercession for the transgressors. 

g Bom. viii. 32. He that spared not his 
own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how 
shall he not with him also freely give us 
all things ? 

h 2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to 
be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we 
might be made the righteousness of God in 
him. Matt. iii. 17. And lo a voice from 
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in 
whom I am well pleased. Eph. v. 2. And 



CHAP. XI. 



JUSTIFICATION. 



59 



tification is only of free grace f that both the exact justice 
and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification 
of sinners. k 

IV. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the 
elect; 1 and Christ did, in the fulness of time, die for their 
sins, and rise again for their justification : m nevertheless they 
are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth in due time 
actually apply Christ unto them. n 

V. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that 
are justified :° and although they can never fall from the 
state of justification, 1 * yet they may by their sins fall under 
God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his 
countenance restored unto them, until they humble them- 



walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, 
and hath given himself for us an offering 
and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling 
savour. 

• Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by 
his grace, through the redemption that is in 
Christ Jesus. Eph. i. 7. In whom we have 
redemption through his blood, the for- 
giveness of sins, according to the riches of 
his grace. 

k Rom. iii. 26. To declare, I say, at this 
time his righteousness ; that he might be just, 
and the justifier of him which believeth in 
Jesus. Eph. ii. 7. That in the ages to come 
he might shew the exceeding riches of his 
grace, in his kindness toward us through 
Christ Jesus. 

IV. 1 Gal. iii. 8. And the scripture, fore- 
seeing that God would justify the heathen 
through faith, preached before the gospel 
unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all 
nations be blessed. 1 Pet. i. 2. Elect ac- 
cording to the foreknowledge of God the 
Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, 
unto obedience and sprinkling of the 
blood of Jesus Christ. Ver. 19. But with 
the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb 
without blemish and without spot : Ver. 
20. Who verily was foreordained before the 
foundation of the world, but was manifest 
in these last times for you. Rom. viii. 30. 
Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them 
he also called ; and whom he called, them 
he also justified; and whom he justified, 
them he also glorified. 

m Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the 
time was come, God sent forth his Son, made 
of a woman, made under the law. 1 Tim. 
ii. 6. Who gave himself a ransom for all, 
to be testified in due time. Rom. iv. 25. Who 



was delivered for our offences, and was 
raised again for our justification. 

n Col. i. 21. And you, that were some 
time alienated, and enemies in your mind 
by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. 
Ver. 22. In the body of his flesh through 
death, to present you holy, and unblame- 
able, and unreproveable in his sight. Gal. 
ii. 16. [See letter immediately foregoing.] 
Tit. iii. 4. But after that the kindness and 
love of God our Saviour toward man ap- 
peared, Ver. 5. Not by works of right- 
eousness which we have done, but accord- 
ing to his mercy he saved us, by the washing 
of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost ; Ver. 6. Which he shed on us 
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Sa- 
viour ; Ver. 7. That, being justified by his 
grace, we should be made heirs according to 
the hope of eternal life. 

V. Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our 
debts, as we forgive our debtors. 1 John 
i. 7. But if we walk in the light, as he is 
in the light, we have fellowship one with 
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his 
Son cleanseth us from all sin. Ver. 9. If 
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just 
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from 
all unrighteousness. 1 John ii. 1. My 
little children, these things write I unto 
you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, 
we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus 
Christ the righteous : Ver. 2. And he is 
the propitiation for our sins; and not for 
ours only, but also for the sins of the whole 
world. 

p Luke xxii. 32. But I have prayed for 
thee, that thy faith fail not : and when thou 
art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 
J ohn x. 28. And I give unto them eternal 



60 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XII. 

selves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith 
and repentance.* 1 

VI. The justification of believers under the Old Testa- 
ment was, in all these respects, one and the same with the 
justification of believers under the New Testament/ 



CHAP. XII.— Of Adoption. 



I. A LL those that are justified, God vouchsafeth, in 
iX and for his only Son Jesus Christ, to make par- 
takers of the grace of adoption:* 1 by which they are 
taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privi- 
leges of the children of Cod ; b have his name put upon 



life ; and they shall never perish, neither shall 
any pluck them out of my hand. Heb. x. 
14. For "by one offering lie hath perfected 
for ever them that are sanctified. 

i Ps. lxxxix. 31. If they break my sta- 
tutes, and keep not my commandments ; 
Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgres- 
sion with the rod, and their iniquity icith 
stripes. Ver. 33. Nevertheless my loving- 
kindness will I not utterly take from him, 
nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Ps. li. 
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be 
clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than 
snow. Ver. 8. Make me to hear joy and 
gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken 
may rejoice. Ver. 9. Hide thy face from my 
sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 
Ver. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O 
God ; and renew a right spirit within me. 
Ver. 11. Cast me not away from thy pre- 
sence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from 
me. Ver. 12. Restore unto me the joy of 
thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free 
Spirit. Ps. xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my 
sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not 
hid. I said, I will confess my transgres- 
sions unto the Lord ; and thou forgavest 
the iniquity of my sin. Matt. xxvi. 75. 
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, 
which said unto him, Before the cock crow, 
thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went 
out, and wept bitterly. 1 Cor. xi. 30. For 
this cause many are weak and sickly among 
you, and many sleep. Ver. 32. But when 
we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, 
that we should not be condemned with the 



world. Luke. i. 20. And, behold, thou 
shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until 
the day that these things shall be perform- 
ed, because thou believest not my words, which 
shall be fulfilled in their season. 

VL r Gal. iii. 9. So then they which 
be of faith are blessed with faithful Abra- 
ham. Ver. 13. Christ hath redeemed us 
from the curse of the law, being made a curse 
for us : for it is written, Cursed is every 
one that hangeth on a tree : Ver. 14. 
That the blessing of Abraham might come 
on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ ; that 
we might receive the promise of the Spirit 
through faith. Rom. iv. 22. And there- 
fore it was imputed to him for righteous- 
ness. Ver. 23. Now, it was not written for 
his sake alone, that it was imputed to him ; 
Ver. 24. But for us also, to whom it shall 
be imputed, if we believe on him that 
raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. 
Heb. xiii. 8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, 
and to-day, and for ever. 

I. a Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us 
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ 
to himself, according to the good pleasure of 
his will. Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of 
the time was come, God sent forth his Son, 
made of a woman, made under the law, 
Ver. 5. To redeem them that were under 
the law, that we might receive the adoption 
of sons. 

b Rom. viii. 17. And if children, then 
heirs ; heirs of God, and joint heirs with 
Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, 



CHAP. XIII. 



SANCTIFICATION. 



61 



them/ receive the Spirit of adoption ; d have access to the 
throne of grace with boldness ; e are enabled to cry, Abba, 
Father ; f are pitied/ protected/ provided for/ and chastened 
by him as by a father ; k yet never cast off/ but sealed to the 
day of redemption, 111 and inherit the promises/ as heirs of 
everlasting salvation. 



CHAP. XIII.— Of Sanctification. 



I. rpHEY who are effectually called and regenerated, hav- 
J_ ing a new heart and a new spirit created in them, 
are farther sanctified really and personally, through the 
virtue of Christ's death and resurrection/ by his word and 



that we may be also glorified together. 
John i. 12. But as many as received him, 
to them gave he power to become the sons of 
God, even to them that believe on his 
name. 

c Jer. xiv. 9. Vet thou, Lord, art in 
the midst of us, and we are called by thy 
name; leave us not. 2 Cor. vi. 18. And 
will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my 
sons and daughters, saith the Lord Al- 
mighty. Eev. iii. 12. Him that over- 
cometh will I make a pillar in the temple 
of my God, and he shall go no more out : 
and I will write upon him the name of my 
God, and the name of the city of my God, 
which is new Jerusalem, which cometh 
down out of heaven from my God ; and I 
will write upon him my new name. 

a Kom. viii. 15. For ye have not re- 
ceived the spirit of bondage again to fear ; 
but ye have received the spirit of adoption, 
whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

e Eph. iii. 12. In whom we hove boldness 
and access with confidence by the faith of 
him. Kom. v. 2. By whom also we have 
access by faith into this grace wherein we 
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of 
God. 

f Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, 
God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son 
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

s Ps. ciii. 13. Like as a father pitieth 
his children, so the Lord pitieth them that 
fear him. 

& Prov. xiv. 26. In the fear of the Lord 
is strong confidence; and his children shall 
have a place of refuge. 



1 Matt. vi. 30. Wherefore, if God so 
clothe the grass of the field, which to day 
is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, 
shall he not much more clothe you, ye of 
little faith ? Ver. 32. For your heavenly 
Father knoweth that ye have need of all these 
things. 1 Pet. v. 7. Casting all your care 
upon him ; for he careth for you. 

k Heb. xii. 6. For whom the Lord lov- 
eth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son 
whom he receiveth. 

1 Lam. iii. 31. For the Lord will not cast 
off for ever. 

m Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy 
Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto the 
day of redemption. 

n Heb. vi. 12. That ye be not slothful, 
but followers of them v)ho through faith and 
patience inherit the promises. 

° 1 Pet. i. 3. Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, 
according to his abundant mercy, hath be- 
gotten us again unto a lively hope, by the 
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 
Ver. 4. To an inheritance incorruptible, and 
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, re- 
served in heaven for you. Heb. i. 14. 
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent 
forth to minister for them who shall be heirs 
of salvation ? 

I. a 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were some 
of you : but ye are washed, but ye are sanc- 
tified, but ye are justified in the name of the 
Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 
Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I com- 
mend you to God, and to the word of his 



62 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CTAP. XIII. 



Spirit dwellingin them ; b the dominion of the whole body of sin 
is destroyed/ and the several lusts thereof are more and more 
weakened and mortified/ and they more and more quickened 
and strengthened in all saving graces, 6 to the practice of true 
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord/ 

II. This sanctification is throughout in the whole man/ 
yet imperfect in this life ; there abideth still some remnants 
of corruption in every part : h whence ariseth a continual and 
irreconcilable war ; the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and 
the Spirit against the flesh. 1 

III. In which war, although the remaining corruption for 
a time may much prevail/ yet, through the continual supply 



grace, which is able to build you up, and to 
give you an inheritance among all them 
"which are sanctified. Phil. iii. 10. That 
I may know him, and the power of his re- 
surrection, and the fellowship of his suffer- 
ings, being made conformable unto his death. 
Rom. yi. 5- For if we have been planted 
together in the likeness of his death, we shall 
be also in the likeness of his resurrection : 
Ver. 6. Knowing this, that our old man is 
crucified with him, that the body of sin might 
he destroyed, that henceforth we should not 
serve sin. 

b Johnxvii. 17. Sanctify them through thy 
truth: thy word is truth. Eph. v. 26. 
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with 
the washing of water by the word. 2 Thess. 
ii. 13. But we are bound to give thanks 
alway to God for you, brethren beloved of 
the Lord, because God hath from the be- 
ginning chosen you to salvation through 
sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the 
truth. 

c Rom. vi. 6. Knowing this, that our 
old man is crucified with him, that the body 
of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth 
we should not serve sin. Ver. 14. For 
sin shall not have dominion over you : for ye 
are not under the law, but under grace. 

d Gal. v. 24. And they that are Christ's 
have crucified the flesh, with the affections 
and lusts. Rom. viii. 18. For if ye live 
after the flesh, ye shall die ; but if ye 
through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the 
body, ye shall live. 

e Col. i. 11. Strengthened with all might, 
according to his glorious power, unto all 
patience and long-suffering with joyful- 
ness. Eph. iii. 1 6. That he would grant 
you, according to the riches of his glory, 
to be strengthened with might by his Spirit 
in the inner man : Ver. 17. That Christ 
may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that 



ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Ver. 
18. May be able to comprehend with all 
saints what is the breadth, and length, and 
depth, and height; Ver. 19. And to know 
the love of Christ, which passeth know- 
ledge, that ye might be filled with all the 
fulness of God. 

f 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these 
promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse 
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and 
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 
Heb. xii. 14. Follow peace with all men, 
and holiness, without which no man shall see 
the Lord. 

II. s 1 Thess. v. 23. And the very God 
of peace sanctify you wholly : and I pray 
God your whole spirit, and soul, and body, 
be preserved blameless unto the coming of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

h 1 John i. 10. If we say that we have 
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word 
is not in us. Rom. vii. 18. For I know 
that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no 
good thing; for to will is present with me ; 
but how to perform that which is good 1 find 
not. Ver. 23. But I see another law in my 
members warring against the law of my mind, 
and bringing me into captivity to the law 
of sin which is in my members. Phil. iii. 
12. Not as though I had already attained, 
either were already perfect; but I follow 
after, if that I may apprehend that for 
which also I am apprehended of Christ 
Jesus. 

1 Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusieth against 
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : 
and these are contrary the one to the other ; 
so that ye cannot do the things that ye 
would. 1 Pet. ii. 11. Dearly beloved, I 
beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, 
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against 
the soul. 

III. * Rom. vii. 23. But I see another 



CHAP. XIV. SAVING FAITH. 63 

of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regene- 
rate part do tli overcome i 1 and so the saints grow in grace, m 
perfecting holiness in the fear of God. n 



CHAP. XIY.— Of Saving Faith. 



I. HPHE grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to 
JL believe to the saving of their souls/ is the work of 
the Spirit of Christ in their hearts/ and is ordinarily wrought 
by the ministry of the word: by which also, and by the 
administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased 
and strengthened.* 

II. By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true what- 
soever is revealed in the word, for the authority of God 



law in my members warring against the 
law of my mind, and bringing me into cap- 
tivity to the law of sin which is in my 
members. 

i Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not have do- 
minion over you: for ye are not under the 
law, but under grace. 1 John v. 4. For 
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the 
world: and this is the victory that over- 
cometh the world, even our faith. Eph. 
iv. 15. But, speaking the truth in love, 
may grow up into him in all things, which is 
the head, even Christ : Ver. 16. From 
whom the whole body fitly joined together 
and compacted by that which every joint 
supplieth, according to the effectual work- 
ing in the measure of every part, maketh 
increase of the body, unto the edifying of 
itself in love. 

m 2 Pet. iii. 18. But grow in grace, and 
in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now 
and for ever. Amen. 2 Cor. iii. 18. But 
we all, with open face beholding as in a 
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into 
the same image, from glory to glory, even 
as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

n 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these 
promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse 
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh 
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of 
God. 

I. a Heb. x. 39. But we are not of them 



who draw back unto perdition; but of 
them that believe to the saving of the soul. 

b 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the same 
spirit of faith, according as it is written, I 
believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we 
also believe, and therefore speak. Eph. i. 
17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the Father of glory, may give unto you the 
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the know- 
ledge of him : Ver. 18. The eyes of your 
understanding being enlightened ; that ye 
may know what is the hope of his calling, 
and what the riches of the glory of his in- 
heritance in the saints, Ver. 19. And 
what is the exceeding greatness of his 
power to us-ward who believe, according to 
the working of his mighty power. Eph. ii. 
8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; 
and that not of yourselves : it is the gift 
of God. 

c Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call 
on him in whom they have not believed ? 
and hoio shall they believe in him of whom 
they have not heard ? and how shall they 
hear without a preacher ? Ver. 17. So 
then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing 
by the word of God. 

d 1 Pet. ii. 2. As new-born babes, desire 
the sincere milk of the word, that ye may 
grow thereby. Acts xx. 32. And now, 
brethren, I commend you to God, and to 
the word of his grace, which is able to build 
you up, and to give you an inheritance 
among all them which are sanctified. Rom. 



64 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XIV. 



himself speaking therein; 6 and acteth differently upon that 
which each particular passage thereof containeth ; yielding 
obedience to the commands/ trembling at the threatenings/ 
and embracing the promises of God for this life and that 
which is to come. h But the principal acts of saving faith 
are, accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for 
justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the 
covenant of grace. 1 

III. This faith is different 
may be often and many ways 



in degrees, weak or strong ; k 
assailed and weakened, but 



iv. 11. And lie received the sign of circum~ 
cision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith 
which he had yet being uncircumcised : 
that he might be the father of all them 
that believe, though they be not circum- 
cised ; that righteousness might be imputed 
unto them also. Luke xvii. 5. And the 
apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our 
faith. Kom. i. 16. Fori am not ashamed 
of the gospel of Christ : for it is the power 
of God unto salvation to every one that be- 
lieve fch ; to the Jew first, and also to the 
Greek. Ver. 17. For therein is the right- 
eousness of God revealed from* faith to faith: 
as it is written, The just shall live by 
faith. 

II. e John iv. 42. And said unto the wo- 
man, Now we believe, not because of thy 
saying : for we have heard him ourselves, and 
know that this is indeed the Christ, the Sa- 
viour of the world. 1 Thess. ii. 13. For 
this cause also thank we God without 
ceasing, because, when ye received the 
word of God which ye heard of us, ye 
received it not as the word of men, but (as 
it is in truth) the word of God, which effec- 
tually worketh also in you that believe. 1 
John v. 10. He that believeth on the Son of 
God hath the witness in himself: he that be- 
lieveth not God hath made him a liar ; 
because he believed not the record that 
God gave of his Son. Acts xxiv. 14. But 
this I confess unto thee, that after the way 
which they call heresy, so worship I the 
God of my fathers, believing all things which 
are written in the law and in the prophets. 

f Rom. xvi. 26. But now is made mani- 
fest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, 
according to the commandment of the ever- 
lasting God, made known to all nations for 
the obedience of faith. 

g Isa. lxvi. 2. For all those things hath 
mine hand made, and all those things have 
been, saith the Lord : but to this man will 
I look, even to him that is poor, and of a 
contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 



h Heb. xi. 13. These all died in faith, 
not having received the promises, but hav- 
ing seen them afar off, and were persuaded 
of them, and embraced them, and confessed 
that they were strangers and pilgrims on 
the earth. 1 Tim. iv. 8. For bodily exer- 
cise profiteth little ; but godliness is pro- 
fitable unto all things, having promise of 
the life that now is, and of that which is to 
come. 

1 John i. 12. But as many as received 
him, to them gave he power to become the 
sons of God, even to them that believe on 
his name. Acts xvi. 31. And they said, 
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
shalt be saved, and thy house. Gal. ii. 20. 
I am crucified with Christ : nevertheless I 
live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me : 
and the life which I now live in the flesh I 
live by the faith of the Son of God, who 
loved me, and gave himself for me. Acts 
xv. 11. But we believe that through the 
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be 
saved, even as they. 

III. k Heb.v. 13. For every one that useth 
milk is unskilfulin the word of righteousness ; 
for he is a babe. Ver. 14. But strong meat be- 
longeth to them that are of full age, even those 
who by reason of use have their senses exer- 
cised to discern both good and evil. Bom. 
iv. 19. And being not weak in faith, he 
considered not his own body now dead, 
when he was about an hundred years old, 
neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb : 
Ver. 20. He staggered not at the promise 
of God through unbelief ; but was strong in 
faith, giving glory to God. Matt. vi. 30. 
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the 
field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is 
cast into the oven, shall he not much more 
clothe you, ye of little faith ? Matt. viii. 
10. When Jesus heard, it, he marvelled, 
and said to them that followed, Verily I 
say unto you, I have not found so great 
faith, no, not in Israel 



CHAP. XV. REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE. G5 

gets the victory; 1 growing up in many to the attainment of 
a full assurance through Christ, m who is both the author and 
finisher of our faith. n 



CHAP. XV. — Of Repentance unto Life. 



j t "QEPENTANCE unto life is an evangelical grace/ the 
\X doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister 
of the gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ. b 

II. By it a sinner, out of the sight and sense, not only of 
the danger, but also of the fllthiness and odiousness of his 
sins, as contrary to the holy nature and righteous law of 
Grod, and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to 
such as are penitent, so grieves for and hates his sins, as to 
turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavour- 



i Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord said, 
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired 
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat : 
Ver. 32. But I have prayed for thee, that 
thy faith fail not : and when thou art con- 
verted, strengthen thy brethren. Eph. vi. 
16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, 
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the 
fiery darts of the wicked. 1 John v. 4. For 
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the 
world : and this is the victory that over- 
cometh the world, even our faith. Ver. 5. Who 
is he that overcometh the world, but he that 
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God ? 

m Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that every 
one of you do shew the same diligence, to 
the full assurance of hope unto the end : 
Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, but fol- 
lowers of them who through faith and pa- 
tience inherit the promises. Heb. x. 22. Let 
us draw near with a true heart, in full 
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprink- 
led from an evil conscience, and our bodies 
washed with pure water. Col. ii. 2. That 
their hearts might be comforted, being knit 
together in love, and unto all riches of the 
full assurance of understanding, to the ac- 
knowledgment of the mystery of God, and 
of the Father, and of Christ. 

n Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the 
author and finisher of our faith; who, for the 
joy that was set before him, endured the 
cross, despising the shame, and is set down 
at the right hand of the throne of God. 



I. a Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon 
the house of David, and upon the inhabi- 
tants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and 
of supplications ; and they shall look upon 
me whom they have pierced, and they shall 
mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only 
son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as 
one that is in bitterness for his first-born. 
Acts xi. 1 8. When they heard these things, 
they held their peace, and glorified God, 
saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles 
granted repentance unto life. 

b Luke xxiv. 47. And that repentance 
and remission of sins should be preached in 
his name among all nations, beginning at 
Jerusalem. Mark i. 15. And saying, The 
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God 
is at hand : repent ye, and believe the gos- 
pel. Acts xx. 21 . Testifying both to the 
Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance to- 
ward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

II. c Ezek. xviii. 30. Therefore I will 
judge you, house of Israel, every one ac- ' 
cording to his ways, saith the Lord God. 
Repent, and turn yourselves from all your 
transgressions ; so iniquity shall not be 
your ruin. Ver. 31. Cast away from you 
all your transgressions, whereby ye have 
transgressed; and make you a new heart 
and a new spirit : for why will ye die, 
house of Israel ? Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then 
shall ye remember your own evil ways, and 
your doings that were not good, and shall 

E 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XV. 



ing to walk with him in all the ways of his command- 
ments^ 

III. Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any 
satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof/ which 
is the act of God's free grace in Christ ; f yet is it of such 
necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon with- 
out it. s 

loathe yourselves in your own sight, for judgments. Luke i. 6. And they were 

your iniquities, and for your abominations, both righteous before God, walking in all 

Isa. xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also the cover- the commandments and ordinances of the 

ing of thy graven images of silver, and the Lord blameless. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. And 

ornament of thy molten images of gold : like unto him was there no king before 

thou shall cast them away as a menstruous him, that turned to the Lord with all his 

cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee heart, and with all his soul, and with all 

hence. Ps. li. 4. Against thee, thee only, his might, according to all the law of Moses; 

have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; neither after him arose there any like him. 

that thou mightest be justified when thou III. e Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye 

speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. remember your own evil ways, and your 

Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard Ephraim doings that were not good, and shall loathe 

bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised yourselves in your own sight, for your ini- 

me, and I was chastised, as a bullock un- quities, and for your abominations. Yer. 

accustomed to the yoke : turn thou me, 32. Not for your sokes do I this, saith the 

and I shall be turned ; for thou art the Lord God, be it known unto you : be 

Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely after that ashamed and confounded for your own ways, 

I was turned, I repented ; and after that house of Israel. Ezek. xvi. 61. Then 

I was instructed, / smote upon my thigh : thou shalt remember thy ways, and be 

I vjas ashamed, yea, even confounded, because ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sis- 

I did bear the reproach of my youth. Joel ters, thine elder and thy younger : and I 

ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith the Lord, will give them unto thee for daughters, 

Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and but not by thy covenant. Ver. 62. And 

with fasting, and with weeping, and with I will establish my covenant -with thee; 

mourning; Ver. 13. And rend your heart, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord : 

and not your garments, and turn unto the Ver. 63. That thou mayest remember, and 

Lord your God : for he is gracious and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any 

merciful, slow to anger, and of great kind- more because of thy shame, when I am paci- 

ness, and repenteth him of the evil. Amos fied toward thee for all that thou hast 

v. 15. Hate the evil, and love the good, and done, saith the Lord God. 

establish judgment in the gate : it may be f Hos. xiv. 2. Take with you words, and 

that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious turn to the Lord : say unto him, Take 

unto the remnant of Joseph. Ps. cxix. away all iniquity, and receive us graciously : 

128. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts so will we render the calves of our lips, 

concerning all things to be right ; and 1 Ver. 4. I will heal their backsliding, I 

hate every false way. 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, will love them freely; for mine anger is 

behold, this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed turned away from him. Eom. iii. 24. 

after a godly sort, what carefulness it Being justified freely by his grace, through 

wrought in you, yea, what clearing of your- the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 

selves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption 

yea, what vehement desire, yea, what seal, through his blood, the" forgiveness of sins, 

yea, what revenge! In all things ye have according to the riches of his grace. 

approved yourselves to be clear in this * Luke xiii. 3. I tell you, Nay : but, ex- 

matter. cept ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 

aPs. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be Ver. 5. I tell you, Nay : but, except ye re* 

ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy pent, ye shall all likewise perish. Acts xvii. 

commandments. Ver. 59. I thought on my 30. And the times of this ignorance God 

ways, and turned my feet unto thy testi- winked at ; but now commandeth all men 

monies. Ver. 106. / have sworn, and I will every where to repent : Ver. 31. Because he 

perform it, that I will keep thy righteous hath appointed a day, in the which he will 



CHAP. XV. 



REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE. 



67 



IV. As there is no sin so small but it deserves damna- 
tion; 11 so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation 
upon those who truly repent. 1 

V. Men ought not to content themselves with a general 
repentance, but it is every man's duty to endeavour to re- 
pent of his particular sins particularly. 1 " 

VI. As every man is bound to make private confession 
of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof ; 1 upon 
which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy ; m so he 
that scandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to 
be willing, by a private or publick confession and sorrow for 
his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended; 11 



judge the world in righteousness by that 
man whom he hath ordained ; whereof he 
hath given assurance unto all men, in that 
he hath raised him from the dead. 

IV. h Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin 
is death; but the gift of Godis eternal life 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Eom. v. 
12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered 
into the world, and death by sin; and so 
death passed upon all men, for that all have 
sinned. Matt. xii. 36. But I say unto 
you, That every idle word that men shall 
speak, they shall give account thereof in the 
day of judgment. 

' Isa. lv. 7. Let the wicked forsake his 
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts : 
and let him return unto the Lord, and he 
will have mercy upon him; and to our God, 
for he will abundantly pardon. Rom. viii. 
1. There is therefore now no condemnation 
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who 
walk not after the flesh, but after the 
Spirit. Isa. i. 16. Wash you, make you 
clean ; put away the evil of your doings 
from before mine eyes ; cease to do evil. 
Ver. 18. Come now, and let us reason to- 
gether, saith the Lord : Though your sins 
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; 
though they be red like crimson, they shall 
be as wool. 

V. k p s . xix. 13. Keep back thy servant 
also from presumptuous sins; let them not 
have dominion over me : then shall I be 
upright, and I shall be innocent from the 
great transgression. Luke xix. 8. And 
Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, 
Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give 
to the poor ; and if / have taken any thing 
from any man by false accusation, I restore 
him fourfold. 1 Tim. i. 13. Who was be- 
fore a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and in- 
jurious; but I obtained mercy, because I 
did it ignorantlyin unbelief. Ver. 15. This 



is a faithful saying, and worthy of all ac- 
ceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the 
world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 

VI. 1 Ps. li. 4. Against thee, thee only, 
have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; 
that thou mightest be justified when thou 
speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 
Ver. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; 
and in sin did my mother conceive me. Ver. 
7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be 
clean ; wash me, and I shall be whiter than 
snow. Ver. 9. Hide thy face from my sins, 
and blot out all mine iniquities. Ver. 14. 
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, God, 
thou God of my salvation ; and my tongue 
shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. Ps. 
xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, 
and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I 
will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; 
and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. 
Selah. Ver. 6. For this shall every one 
that is godly pray unto thee in a time when 
thou mayest be found : surely in the floods 
of great waters they shall not come nigh 
unto .him. 

m Prov. xxviii. 13. He that covereth his 
sins shall not prosper ; but whoso confesseth 
and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 1 John 
i. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful 
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse 
us from all unrighteousness. 

n James v. 16. Confess your faults one to 
another, and pray one for another, that ye 
may be healed. The effectual fervent 
prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 
Luke xvii. 3. Take heed to yourselves : If 
thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; 
and if he repent, forgive him. Ver. 4. And 
if he trespass against thee seven times in 
a day, and seven times in a day turn again 
to thee, saying, / repent; thou shalt forgive 
him. Josh. vii. 19. And Joshua said unto 
Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to 



G8 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XVI. 

who are thereupon to be reconciled to him ; and in love to 
receive him. 



CHAP. XVL—O/Good Works. 



^j^OOD works are only such as God hath commanded 



in his holy word/ and not such as, without the 
warrant thereof, are devised by men out of blind zeal, or 
upon any pretence of good intention. b 

II. These good works, done in obedience to God's 
commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true 
and lively faith : c and by them believers manifest their 
thankfulness/ strengthen their assurance, 6 edify their breth- 



the Lord God of Israel, and make confes- 
sion unto him ; and tell me now what thou 
hast done ; hide it not from me. [Ps. li. 
throughout.] 

2 Cor. ii. 8. Wherefore I beseech you, 
that ye would confirm your love toward Mm. 



I. a Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, 
man, what is good; and what doth the Lord 
require of thee, but to do justly, and to 
love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy 
God ? Eom. xii. 2. And be not conformed 
to this world ; but be ye transformed by 
the renewing of your mind, that ye may 
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and 
perfect will of God. Heb. xiii. 21. Make 
you perfect in every good work to do his 
kill, working in you that which is well- 
pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ ; 
to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

b Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do wor- 
ship me, teaching for doctrines the command- 
ments of men. Isa. xxix. 13. Wherefore 
the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people 
draw near me with their mouth, and with 
their lips do honour me, but have removed 
their heart far from me, and their fear to- 
ward me is taught by the precept of men. 1 
Pet. i. 18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye 
were not redeemed with corruptible things, 
as silver and gold, from your vain con- 
versation received by tradition from your 
fathers. Rom. x. 2. For I bear them re- 
cord, that they have a zeal of God, but not 
according to knowledge. John xvi. 2. They 
shall put you out of the synagogues : yea, 



the time cometh, that whosoever killeth 
you will think that he doeth God service. 1 
Sam. xv. 21. But the people took of the 
spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the 
things which should have been utterly de- 
stroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God 
in Gilgal. Ver. 22. And Samuel said, Hath 
the Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings 
and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the 
Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacri- 
fice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 
Ver. 23. For rebellion is as the sin of 
witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity 
and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected 
the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected 
thee from being king. 

II. c James ii. 18. Tea, a man may say, 
Thou hast faith, and I have works ; shew 
me thy faith without thy works, and I will 
shew thee my faith by my works. Ver. 22. 
Seest thou how faith wrought with his 
works, and by works was faith made perfect ? 

d Ps. cxvi. 12. What shall I render unto 
the Lord for all his benefits toward me ? 
Ver. 13.1 will take the cup of salvation, 
and call upon the name of the Lord. 1 
Pet. ii. 9. But ye are a chosen generation, 
a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a pe- 
culiar people ; that ye should shew forth the 
praises of him who hath called you out of 
darkness into his marvellous light. 

e 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know 
that we know him, if we keep his command- 
ments. Ver. 5. But whoso keepeth his 
word, in him verily is the love of God per- 
fected : hereby know we thai we are in him. 



CHAP. XVI. 



GOOD WORKS. 



69 



ren, f adorn the profession of the gospel/ stop the mouths of 
the adversaries/ and glorify G od, 1 whose workmanship they 
are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto ; k that, having their 
fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal life. 1 

III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of them- 
selves, but wholly from the spirit of Christ. m And that they 
may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have al- 
ready received, there is required an actual influence of the 
same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his 
good pleasure : n yet are they not hereupon to grow negli- 
gent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless 



2 Pet. i. 5. And besides this, giving all 
diligence, add to your faith, virtue ; and to 
virtue, knowledge ; Ver. 6. And to know- 
ledge, temperance ; and to temperance, 
patience ; and to patience, godliness ; Ver. 

7. And to godliness, brotherly kindness ; 
and to brotherly kindness, charity. Ver. 

8. For if these things be in you, and 
abound, they make you that ye shall 
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the 
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 

9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, 
and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten 
that he was purged from his old sins. Ver. 

10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give 
diligence to make your calling and election 
sure ; for if ye do these things, ye shall 
never fall. 

f 2 Cor. ix. 2. For I know the forward- 
ness of your mind, for which I boast of you 
to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was 
ready a year ago ; and your zeal hath pro- 
voked very many. Matt. v. 16. Let your 
light so shine before men, that they may see 
your good works, and glorify your Father 
which is in heaven. 

g Tit. ii. 5. To be discreet, chaste, 
keepers at home, good, obedient to their 
own husbands, that the word of God be not 
blasphemed. Ver. 9. Exhort servants to be 
obedient unto their own masters, and to 
please them well in all things ; not an- 
swering again ; Ver. 10. Not purloining, 
but shewing all good fidelity ; that they 
may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things. Ver. 11. For the grace of 
God that bringeth salvation hath appeared 
to all men, Ver. 12. Teaching us, that, 
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we 
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, 
in this present world. 1 Tim. vi. 1. Let as 
many servants as are under the yoke count 
their own masters worthy of all honour, 



that the name of God and his doctrine be not 
blasphemed. 

n 1 Pet. ii. 15. For so is the will of God, 
that with well-doing ye may put to silence 
the ignorance of foolish men. 

» 1 Pet. ii. 12. Having your conversation 
honest among the Gentiles : that, whereas 
they speak against you as evil-doers, they 
may, by your good works, which they shall 
behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 
Phil. i. 11. Being filled with the fruits of 
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, 
unto the glory and praise of God. John xv. 
8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye 
bear much fruit ; so shall ye be my disciples. 

Eph. ii. 10. For we are his workman- 
ship, created in Christ Jesus unto good 
works, which God hath before ordained that 
we should walk in them. 

1 Rom. vi. 22. But now, being made free 
from sin, and become servants to God, ye 
have your fruit unto holiness, and the end 
everlasting life. 

III. m John xv. 4. Abide in me, and I 
in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit 
of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more 
can ye, except ye abide in me. Ver. 5. I am 
the vine, ye are the branches : he that 
abideth in me, and I in him, the same 
bringeth forth much fruit; for without me 
ye can do nothing. Ver. 6. If a man 
abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, 
and is withered; and men gather them, and 
cast them into the fire, and they are 
burned. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart 
also will I give you, and a new spirit will 
I put within you ; and I will take away 
the stony heart out of your flesh, and I 
will give you an heart of flesh. Ver. 27. 
And / will put my Spirit within you, and 
cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye 
shall keep my judgments, and do them. , 

n Phil ii. 13. For it is God which work- 



70 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XVI. 



upon a special motion of the Spirit ; but they ought to be 
diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them. 

IV. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest 
height which is possible in this life, are so far from being 
able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as 
that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound 
to do. p " 

Y. We cannot, by our best works, merit pardon of sin, 
or eternal life, at the hand of God, by reason of the great 
disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, 
and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom 
by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of 
our former sins ; q but when we have done all we can, we 



eth in you both to will and to do of h is good 
pleasure. Phil. iv. 13. J can do all things 
through Christ which strengthened me. 2 
Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of 
ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves ; 
hut our sufficiency is of God. 

Phil. ii. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, 
as ye have always obeyed, not as in my 
presence only, but now much more in my 
absence, work out your own salvation with 
fear and trembling. Heb. vi. 11. And we 
desire that every one of you do shew the 
same diligence, to the full assurance of hope 
unto the end : Ver. 12. That ye be not 
slothful, but followers of them who through 
faith and patience inherit the promises. 
2 Pet. i. 3. According as his divine power 
hath given unto us all things that pertain 
unto life and godliness, through the know- 
ledge of him that hath called us to glory 
and virtue. Ver. 5. And besides this, 
giving all diligence, add to your faith, vir- 
tue ; and to virtue, knowledge ; Ver. 1 0. 
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili- 
gence to make your calling and election 
sure ; for if ye do these things, ye shall 
never fall : Ver. 11. For so an entrance 
shall be ministered unto you abundantly 
into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Isa. lxiv. 7. 
And there is none that calleth upon thy 
name, that stirreth up himself to take hold 
of thee : for thou hast hid thy face from 
us, and hast consumed us, because of our 
iniquities. 2 Tim. i. 6. Wherefore I put 
thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the 
gift of God, which is in thee by the putting 
on of my hands. Acts xxvi. 6. And now 
I stand and am judged for the hope of the 
promise made of God unto our fathers : 
Ver. 7. Unto which promises our twelve 



tribes, instantly serving God day and night, 
hope to come : for which hope's sake, king 
Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. Jude, 
ver. 20. But ye, beloved, building up your- 
selves on your most holy faith, praying in 
the Holy Ghost, Ver. 21. Keep yourselves 
in tlie love of God, looking for the mercy of 
our Lord Jestis Christ unto eternal life. 

IV. p Luke xvii. 10. So likewise ye, 
when ye shall have done all those things 
which are commanded you, say, We are un- 
profitable servants : we have done that which 
was our duty to do. Neh. xiii. 22. And I 
commanded the Levites, that they should 
cleanse themselves, and that they should 
come and keep the gates, to sanctify the 
sabbath-day. Remember me, my God, 
concerning this also, and spare me according 
to the greatness of thy mercy. Job ix. 2. 
I know it is so of a truth : but how should 
man be just with God ? Ver. 3. If he will 
contend with him, he cannot answer him one 
of a thousand. Gal. v. 17. For the flesh 
lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit 
against the flesh : and these are contrary 
the one to the other ; so that ye cannot do 
the things that ye would. 

V. * Rom. iii 20. Therefore by the deeds 
of the law there shall no flesh be justified in 
his sight : for by the law is the knowledge of 
sin. Rom. iv. 2. For if Abraham were 
justified by works, he hath whereof to 
glory, but not before God. Ver. 4. Now 
to him that worketh is the reward not reck- 
oned of grace, but of debt. Ver. 6. Even as 
David also describeth the blessedness of 
the man, unto whom God imputeth righte- 
ousness without works. Eph. ii. 8. For by 
grace are ye saved through faith : and that 
not of yourselves : it is the gift of God : 
Ver, 9. Not of works, lest any man should 



CHAP. XVI. 



GOOD WORKS. 



71 



have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants ; r and 
because, as they are good, they proceed from the Spirit; 8 and 
as they are wrought by us, they are defiled and mixed with 
so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure 
the severity of God's judgment.* 

VI. Yet notwithstanding, the persons of believers being 
accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted 
in him; v not as though they were in this life wholly unblame- 
able and unreproveable in God's sight ; w but that he, look- 
ing upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward 
that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weak- 
nesses and imperfections.* 



boast. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righte- 
ousness which we have done, but according 
to his mercy he saved us, by the washing 
of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost ; Ver. 6. Which he shed on us 
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Sa- 
viour ; Ver. 7. That, being justified by his 
grace, we should be made heirs according 
to the hope of eternal life. Rom. viii. 18. 
For I reckon, that the sufferings of this 
present time are not worthy to be compared 
with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 
Psal. xvi. 2. my soul, thou hast said 
unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord : my 
goodness extendeth not to thee. Job xxii. 2. 
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that 
is wise may be profitable unto himself ? 
Ver. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, 
that thou art righteous ? or is it gain to him, 
that thou makest thy ways perfect? Job 
xxxv. 7. If thou be righteous, what givest 
thou him? or what receiveth he of thine 
hand? Ver. 8. Thy wickedness may hurt 
a man as thou art, and thy righteousness 
may profit the son of man. 

r Lukexvii. 10. [See letter p in this Chap- 
ter.] 

s Gal. v. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit 
is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentle- 
ness, goodness, faith, Ver. 23. Meekness, 
temperance : against such there is no law. 

* Isa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an un- 
clean thing, and all our righteousnesses are 
as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf : 
and our iniquities, like the wind, have 
taken us away. Gal. v. 17. For the flesh 
lusteth against the Spirit; and the Spirit 
against the flesh : and these are contrary 
the one to the other ; so that ye cannot do 
the things that ye would. Bom. vii. 15. For 
that which I do I allow not: for what I 
would, that do I not; but what I hate, that 
do I. Ver. 18. For 1 know that in me 



(that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: 
for to will is present with me ; but how 
to perform that which is good / find not. 
Ps. cxliii. 2. And enter not into judgment 
with thy servant : for in thy sight shall no 
man living be justified. Ps. cxxx. 3. If 
thou, Lord^ shouldest mark iniquities, 
Lord, who shall stand ? 

VI. v Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the 
glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us 
accepted in the Beloved. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye 
also, as lively stones, are built up a spiri- 
tual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up 
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus 
Christ. Exod. xxviii. 38. And it shall be 
upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may 
bear the iniquity of the holy things, which 
the children of Israel shall hallow in all 
their holy gifts ; and it shall be always 
upon his forehead, that they may be ac- 
cepted before the Lord. Gen. iv. 4. And 
Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of 
his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the 
Lord had respect unto Abel, and to his offer- 
ing. With Heb. xi. 4. By faith Abel offered 
unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, 
by which he obtained witness that he was 
righteous, God testifying of his gifts ; and 
by it he, being dead, yet speaketh. 

w Job ix. 20. If J justify myself, mine 
own mouth shall condemn me : if I say, I 
am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. 
Ps. cxliii. 2. And enter not into judgment 
with thy servant : for in thy sight shall no 
man living be justified. 

x Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, 
that brought again from the dead our Lord 
Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
through the blood of the everlasting cove- 
nant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect in every 
good work to do his will, working in you 
that which is well-pleasing in his sight, 
through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for 



72 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XVI, 



VIL Works done by unregenerate men, although, for the 
matter of them, they may be things which God commands, 
and of good use both to themselves and others ; y yet, because 
they proceed not from an heart purified by faith ; z nor are 
done in a right manner, according to the word; a nor to a right 
end, the glory of God ; b they are therefore sinful, and cannot 
please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God. 



ever and ever. Amen. 2 Cor. viii. 12. 
For if there be first a willing mind, it is 
accepted according to that a man hath, and 
not according to that he hath not. Heb. 
vi. 10. For God is not unrighteous, to for- 
get your work and labour of love, which ye 
have shewed toward his name, in that ye 
have ministered to the saints, and do 
minister. Matt. xxv. 21. His lord said 
unto him, Well done, thou good and faith- 
ful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a 
few things, I will make thee ruler over 
many things : enter thou into the joy of 
thy lord. Ver. 23. His lord said unto 
him, Well done, good and faithful servant ; 
thou hast been faithful over a few things, 
I will make thee ruler over many things : 
enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 

VII. y 2 Kings x. 30. And the Lord 
said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well 
in executing that which is right in mine eyes, 
and hast done unto the house of Ahab ac- 
cording to all that was in mine heart, thy 
children of the fourth generation shall sit 
on the throne of Israel. Ver. 31. But 
Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of 
the Lord Cod of Israel with all his heart ; 
for he departed not from the sins of Jero- 
boam, which made Israel to sin. 1 Kings 
xxi. 27. And it came to pass, when Ahab 
heard those words, that he rent his clothes, 
and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, 
and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. Ver. 
29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth him- 
self before me ? Because he humbleth him- 
self before me, I will not bring the evil in his 
days; but in his son's days will I bring 
the evil upon his house. Phil. i. 15. Some 
indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; 
and some also of good will. Ver. 16. The 
one preach Christ of contention, not sin- 
cerely, supposing to add affliction to my 
bonds. Ver. 18. What then ? Notwith- 
standing, every way, whetlier in pretence, or 
in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein 
do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 

z Gen. iv. 5. But unto Cain and to his 
offering, he had not respect. And Cain was 
very wroth, and his countenance fell. 
With Heb. xi. 4. By faith Abel offered unto 



God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by 
which he obtained witness that he was righte- 
ous, God testifying of his gifts ; and by it 
he, being dead, yetspeaketh. Ver. 6. But 
without faith it is impossible to please him : 
for he that cometh to God must believe that 
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that 
diligently seek him. 

a 1 Cor. xiii. 3. And though I bestow all 
my goods to feed the poor, and though I 
give my body to be burned, and have not 
charity, it profiteth me nothing. Isa. i. 12. 
When ye come to appear before me, who 
hath required this at your hand, to tread my 
courts ? 

b Matt.vi. 2. Therefore, when thou doest 
thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before 
thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues, 
and in the streets, that they may have glory 
of men. Verily I say unto you, They have 
their reward. Ver. 5. And when thou 
prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites 
are : for they love to pray standing in the 
synagogues, and in the corners of the 
streets, that they may be seen of men. 
Verily I say unto you, They have their re- 
ward. Ver. 16. Moreover, when ye fast, 
be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad counte- 
nance : for they disfigure their faces that 
they may appear unto men to fast. Verily 
I say unto you, They have their reward. 

c Hag. ii. 14. Then answered Haggai, and 
said, So is this people, and so is this na- 
tion before me, saith the Lord ; and so is 
every work of their hands ; and that which 
they offer thee is unclean. Tit. i. 1 5. Unto 
the pure all things are pure : but unto 
them that are defiled and unbelieving is no- 
thing pure; but even their mind and consci- 
ence is defiled. Amos v. 21. I hate, I de- 
spise your feast-days, and I will not smell in 
your solemn assemblies. Ver. 22. Though 
ye offer me burnt-offerings, and your meat- 
offerings, I will not accept them; neither will 
I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. 
Hosea i. 4. And the Lord said unto him, 
Call his name Jezreel ; for yet a little 
while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel 
upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to 
cease the kingdom of the house of Israel. 



CHAP. XVII. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS. 73 

And yet their neglect of them is more sinful, and displeas- 
ing unto God. d 



CHAP. XVII. — Of the Perseverance of the Saints. 



I mHEY whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effec- 
JL tually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither 
totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace ; hut shall 
certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally 
saved. 9, 

II. This perseverance of the saints depends not upon 
their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree 
of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of 
God the Father ; b upon the efficacy of the merit and inter- 



Rom, ix. 16. So then it is not of him that 
willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God 
that sheweth mercy. Tit. iii. 15. Not by 
' works of righteousness which we have done, 
but according to his mercy he saved us, by 
the washing of regeneration, and renewing 
of the Holy Ghost. 

d Ps. xiv. 4. Rave all tJie workers of ini- 
quity no knowledge ? who eat up my people 
as they eat bread, and call not upon the 
Lord. Ps. xxxvi. 3. The words of his 
mouth are iniquity and deceit : he hath 
left of to be wise, and to do good. Job xxi. 
14. Therefore they say unto God, Depart 
from us; for we desire not the knowledge of 
thy ways. Ver. 15. What is the Almighty, 
that we should serve him ? and what profit 
should we have, if we pray unto him ? 
Matt. xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto 
them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye 
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for 
the devil and his angels : Ver. 42. For I 
was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat : 
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink : 
Ver. 43. I was a stranger, and ye took me 
not in : naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, 
and in prison, and ye visited me not. Ver. 
45. Then shall he answer them, saying, 
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did 
it not to one of the least of these, ye did 
it not to me. Matt, xxiii. 3. Woe unto 
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for 
ye pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cum- 
min, and have omitted the iveightier matters 



of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith : 
these ought ye to have done, and not to leave 
the other undone. 

I. a Phil. i. 6. Being confident of this 
very thing, that he which hath begun a 
good work in you, ivill perform it until the 
day of Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. i. 10. Where- 
fore the rather, brethren, give diligence 
to make your calling and election sure : 
for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. 
John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal 
life; and they shall never perish, neither 
shall any pluck them out of my hand. Ver. 
29. My Father, which gave them me, is 
greater than all ; and none is able to pluck 
them out of my Father's hand. 1 John iii. 
9. Whosoever is born of God doth not com- 
mit sin; for his seed remaineth in him : and 
he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 
1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power of 
God through faith unto salvation, ready to be 
revealed in the last time. Ver. 9. Re- 
ceiving the end of your faith, even the sal- 
vation of your souls. 

II. b 2 Tim. ii. 18. Who concerning the 
truth have erred, saying that the resurrec- 
tion is past already, and overthrow the 
faith of some. Ver. 19. Nevertheless the 
foundation of God standeth sure, having this 
seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. 
And, Let every one that nameth the name 
of Christ depart from iniquity. Jer. xxxi. 
3. The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, 



74 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP, XVII. 



cession of Jesus Christ ; c the abiding of the Spirit, and of 
the seed of G-od within them ; d and the nature of the cove- 
nant of grace : e from all which ariseth also the certainty and 
infallibility thereof/ 

III. Nevertheless they may, through the temptations of 
Satan and of the world, the prevalencyof corruption remaining 
in them, and the neglect of the means of their preservation, 



saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an ever- 
lasting love; therefore, with loving-kindness 
have I drawn thee. 

c Heb. x. 10. By the which will we are 
sanctified, through the offering of the body 
of Jesus Christ once for all. Ver. 14. For 
by one offering he hath perfected for ever them 
that are sanctified. Heb. xiii. 20. Now the 
God of peace, that brought again from the 
dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd 
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlast- 
ing covenant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect in 
every good work to do his will, working in 
you that which is well -pleasing in his sight, 
through Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory 
for ever and ever. Amen. Heb. ix. 12. 
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, 
but by his own blood, he entered in once 
into the holy place, having obtained eternal 
redemption for us. Ver. 13. For if the 
blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes 
of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sancti- 
fieth to the purifying of the flesh ; Ver. 1 4. 
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who 
through the eternal Spirit offered himself 
without spot to God, purge your conscience 
from dead tcorks, to serve the living God ? 
Ver. 15. And for this cause he is the me- 
diator of the new testament, that by means of 
death, for the redemption of the transgres- 
sions that were under the first testament; 
they which are called might receive the pro- 
mise of eternal inheritance. Eom. viii. 33. 
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of 
God's elect ? It is God that justifieth ; 
Ver. 34. Who is he that condemneth ? It 
is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen 
again, who is even at the right hand of God, 
who also maketh intercession for us. Ver. 
35. Who shall separate us from the love 
of Christ ? shall tribulation, or distress, or 
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or 
peril, or sword ? Ver. 36. (As it is written, 
For thy sake we are killed all the day long ; 
we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ) 
Ver. 37. Nay, in all these things we are 
more than conquerors, through him that loved 
us. Ver. 38. For I am persuaded, that 
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 
principalities, nor powers, nor things pre- 



sent, nor things to come, Ver. 39. Nor 
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 
shall be able to separate us from the love of 
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
John xvii. 11. And now I am no more in 
the world, but these are in the world, and 
I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through 
thine own name those whom thou hast given 
me, that they may be one, as we are. Ver. 
24. Father, I will that they also whom thou 
hast given me be with me where I am ; that 
they may behold my glory, which thou 
hast given me : for thou lovedst me before 
the foundation of the world. Luke xxii. 
32. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith, 
fail not: and when thou art converted, 
strengthen thy brethren. Heb. vii. 25. 
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the 
uttermost that come unto God by him, see- 
ing he ever liveth to make intercession for 
them. 

d John xiv. 16. And I will pray the 
Father, and he shall give you another 
Comforter, that he may abide with you for 
ever; Ver. 17. Even the Spirit of truth; 
whom the world cannot receive, because it 
seeth him not, neither knoweth him ; but 
ye know him : for he dwelleth with you, and 
shall be in you. 1 John ii. 27. But the 
anointing which ye have received of him 
abideth in you; and ye need not that any 
man teach you ; but as the same anointing 
teacheth you of all things, and is truth, 
and is no lie, and even as it hath taught 
you, ye shall abide in him. 1 John iii. 9. 
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit 
sin ; for his seed remaineth in him : and he 
cannot sin, because he is born of God. 
e Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an 
covenant with them, that I will 



not turn away from them, to do them good ; 
but 1 will put my fear in their hearts, that 
they shall not depart from me. 

f John x. 28. And I give unto them 
eternal life ; and they shall never perish, 
neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. 
2 Thess. iii. 3. But the Lord is faithful, who 
shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 
1 John ii. 19. They went out from us, but 
they were not of us ; for if they had been of 



CHAP. XVIII. ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION. 



75 



fall into grievous sins; g and for a time continue therein : h 
whereby they incur Grod's displeasure/ and grieve his Holy 
Spirit ; k come to be deprived of some measure of their graces 
and comforts; 1 have their hearts hardened/ 1 and their con- 
sciences wounded ; n hurt and scandalize others/ and bring 
temporal judgments upon themselves. 5 



CHAP. XVIII. — Of Assurance of Grace and Salvation. 

I. A LTHOUGH hypocrites, and other unregenerate men, 
jlL may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and 



us, they would no doubt have continued with 
us : but they went out, that they might be 
made manifest that they were not all of us. 

III. g Matt. xxvi. 70. But he denied before 
them all, saying, I know not what thou 
sayest. Ver. 72. And again he denied with 
an oath, 1 do not know the man. Ver. 74. 
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, 
I know not the man. And immediately 
the cock crew. 

Ps. li. [the title.] To the chief musician, 
A psalm of David, when Nathan the pro- 
phet came unto him, after he had gone in 
to Bath-sheba. Ver. 14. Deliver me from 
blood-guiltiness, God, thou God of my sal- 
vation ; and my tongue shall sing aloud of 
thy righteousness. 

i Isa. lxiv. 5. Thou meetest him that re- 
joiceth and worketh righteousness ; those 
that remember thee in thy ways : behold, 
thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those 
is continuance, and we shall be saved. Ver. 
7. And there is none that calleth upon thy 
name, that stirreth up himself to take hold 
of thee : for thou hast hid thy face from us, 
and hast consumed us, because of our ini- 
quities. Ver. 9. Be not wroth very sore, 
Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever : 
behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy 
people. 2 Sam. xi. 27. And when the 
mourning was past, David sent and fetched 
her to his house, and she became his wife, 
and bare him a son. But the thing that 
David had done displeased the Lord. 

k Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy 
Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto 
the day of redemption. 

i Ps. li. 8. Make me to hear joy and glad- 
ness; that the bones which thou hast 
broken may rejoice. Ver. 10. Create in 
me a clean heart, God ; and renew a right 
spirit within me. Ver. 12. Restore unto 
me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me 
with thy free Spirit. Rev. ii. 4. Never- 



theless I have somewhat against thee, be- 
cause thou hast left thy first love. Cant. v. 
2. I sleep, but my heart waketh : it is the 
voice of my beloved that knocketh, say- 
ing, Open to me, my sister, my love, my 
dove, my undefiled ; for my head is filled 
with dew, and my locks with the drops of 
the night. Ver. 3. I have put off my 
coat ; how shall I put it on ? I have 
washed my feet ; how shall I defile them ? 
Ver. 4. My beloved put in his hand by the 
hole of the door, and my bowels were moved 
for him. Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved ; 
but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and 
was gone : my soul failed when he spake : 
I sought him, but I could not find him ; 
/ called him, but he gave me no answer. 

m Isa. lxiii. 17. Lord, why hast thou 
made us to err from thy ways, and hardened 
our heart from thy fear ? Return for thy 
servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheri- 
tance. Mark vi. 52. For they considered 
not the miracle of the loaves : for their 
heart was hardened. Markxvi. 14. After- 
ward he appeared unto the eleven as they 
sat at meat, and upbraided them with 
their unbelief and hardness of heart, because 
they believed not them which had seen 
him after he was risen. 

n Ps. xxxii. 3. When I kept silence, my 
bones waxed old, through my roaring all the 
day long : Ver. 4. For day and night thy 
hand was heavy upon me ; my moisture is 
turned into the drought of summer. Ps. 
li. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness ; 
that the bones which thou hast broken may 
rejoice. 

2 Sam. xii. 14. Howbeit, because by 
this deed thou hast given great occasion to 
the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the 
child also that is born unto thee shall 
surely die. 

p Ps. lxxxix. 31. If they break my 
statutes, and keep not my commandments ; 



7G 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XVIII. 



carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and estate 
of salvation ; a which hope of theirs shall perish ; b yet such 
as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, 
endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before him, may 
in this life be certainly assured that they are in the state of 
grace, and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God ; 
which hope shall never make them ashamed. d 

II. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable 
persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope ; e but an infallible 
assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the 
promises of salvation/ the inward evidence of those graces 
unto which these promises are made/ the testimony of the 



Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgres- 
sion with the rod, and their iniquity with 
stripes. 1 Cor. xi. 32. But when we are 
judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that 
we should not be condemned with the 
world. 

I. a Job viii. 1 3. So are the paths of all 
that forget God ; and the hypocrite's hope 
shall perish: Ver. 14. Whose hope shall be 
cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's 
web. Micah iii. 11. The heads thereof 
judge for reward, and the priests thereof 
teach for hire, and the prophets thereof 
divine for money : yet will they lean upon 
the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among 
us ? none evil can come upon us. Deut. 
xxix. 19. And it come to pass, when he 
heareth the words of this curse, that he 
bless himself in his heart, saying, / shall 
have peace, though I walk in the imagina- 
tion of mine heart, to add drunkenness to 
thirst. John viii. 41. Ye do the deeds of 
your father. Then said they to him, We 
be not born of fornication; we have one 
Father, even God. 

b Matt. vii. 22. Many will say to me in 
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophe- 
sied in thy name ? and in thy name have 
cast out devils ? and in thy name done 
many wonderful works ? Ver. 23. And 
then will I profess unto them, I never knew 
you : depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

c 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know 
that we know him, if we keep his command- 
ments. 1 John iii. 14. We know that we 
have passed from death unto life, because 
we love the brethren : he that loveth not 
his brother abideth in death. Ver. 18. 
My little children, let us not love in word, 
neither in tongue ; but in deed, and in 
truth. Ver. 19. And hereby we know that 
we are of the truth, and shall assure our 



hearts before him. Ver. 21. Beloved, if 
our heart condemn us not, then have we con- 
fidence toward God. Ver. 24. And he 
that keepeth his commandments dwelleth 
in him, and he in him : and hereby we know 
that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which 
he hath given us. 1 John v. 13. These 
things have I written unto you that be- 
lieve on the name of the Son of God, that 
ye may know that ye have eternal life, and 
that ye may believe on the name of the 
Son of God. 

d Eom. v. 2. By whom also we have ac- 
cess by faith into this grace wherein we 
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of 
God. Ver. 5. And hope maketh not ashamed; 
because the love of God is shed abroad in our 
hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given 
unto us. 

II. e Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that 
every one of you do shew the same dili- 
gence, to the full assurance of hope unto the 
end. Ver. 19. Which hope we have as an 
anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and 
which entereth into that within the vail. 

f Heb. vi. 17. Wherein God, willing 
more abundantly to shew unto the heirs 
of promise the immutability of his counsel, 
confirmed it by an oath; Ver. 18. That by 
two immutable things, in which it was im- 
possible for God to lie, we might have a 
strong consolation, who have fled for refuge 
to lay hold upon the hope set before us. 

s 2 Pet. i. 4. Whereby are given unto 
us exceeding great and precious promises; 
that by these ye might be partakers of the 
divine nature, having escaped the corrup- 
tion that is in the world through lust. 
Ver. 5. And besides this, giving all dili- 
gence, add to your faith, virtue; and to vir- 
tue, knowledge. Ver. 10. Wherefore the 
rather, brethren, give diligence to make 
your calling and election sure : for if ye do 



CHAP. XVIII. ASSURANCE OF GRACE AND SALVATION. 



77 



Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the 
children of God : h which Spirit is the earnest of our inheri- 
tance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption. 1 

III. This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the 
essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and 
conflict with many difficulties, before he be partaker of it : k 
yet, being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which 
are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary 
revelation, in the right use of ordinary means, attain there- 
unto. 1 And therefore it is the duty of every one to give all 
diligence to make his calling and election sure ; m that there- 
by his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy 
Ghost, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and 
cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, 11 the proper fruits of 



these things, ye shall never fall : Ver. 11. 

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you 
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom 
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know that 
we know him, if we keep his commandments. 
1 John iii. 14. We know that we have 
passed from death unto life, because we love 
the brethren: he that loveth not his brother 
abideth in death. 2 Cor. i. 12. For our 
rejoicing is this, the testimony of our con- 
science, that in simplicity and godly sin- 
cerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the 
grace of God, we have had our conversation 
in the world, and more abundantly to you- 
ward. 

h Eom. viii. 15. For ye have not re- 
ceived the spirit of bondage again to fear ; 
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, 
whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Ver. 16. 
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our 
Spirit, that we are the children of God. 

1 Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted, 
after that ye heard the word of truth, the 
gospel of your salvation : in whom also, 
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with 
that Holy Spirit of promise, Ver. 14. 
Which is the earnest of our inheritance, until 
the redemption of the purchased possession, 
unto the praise of his glory. Eph. iv. 30. 
And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, 
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of re- 
demption. 2 Cor. i. 21. Now he which 
stablishethus with you in Christ, and hath 
anointed us, is God ; Ver. 22. Who hath 
also sealed us, and given the earnest of the 
Spirit in our hearts. 

III. k 1 John v. 13. These things have 
I written unto you that believe on the 
name of the Son of God, that ye may know 



that ye have eternal life, and that ye may 
believe on the name of the Son of God. 
Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that feareth 
the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his ser- 
vant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no 
light ? let him trust in the name of the 
Lord, and stay upon his God. Mark ix. 
24. And straightway the father of the 
child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, 
/ believe; help thou mine unbelief. [See 
Ps. lxxxviii. throughout. Ps. lxxvii. to the 
12th verse.] 

1 1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, 
not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit 
which is of God ; that we might know the 
things that are freely given to us of God. 
1 John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we 
dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath 
given us of his Spirit. Heb. vi. 11. And 
we desire that every one of you do shew 
the same diligence, to the full assurance of 
hope unto the end : Ver. 12. That ye be 
not slothful, but followers of them who 
through faith and patience inherit the 
promises. Eph. iii. 17. That Christ may 
dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being 
rooted and grounded in love, Ver. 18. May 
be able to comprehend with all saints what 
is the breadth, and length, and depth, and 
height ; Ver. 19. And to know the love 
of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that 
ye might be filled with all the fulness of 
God. 

m 2 Pet. i. 10. Wherefore the rather, 
brethren, give diligence to make your calling 
and election sure : for if ye do these things, 
ye shall never fall. 

n Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justified 
by faith, we have peace with God, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ : Ver. 2. By whom 



78 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XVIII. 



this assurance : so far is it from inclining men to loose- 



ness/ 



IV. True believers may have the assurance of their salva- 
tion divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as, by 
negligence in preserving of it ; by falling into some special 
sin, which woundeth the conscience, and grieve th the Spirit ; 
by some sudden or vehement temptation ; by God's with- 
drawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such 
as fear him to walk in darkness, and to have no light : p yet 
are they never utterly destitute of that seed of God, and life 
of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity 
of heart and conscience of duty, out of which, by the opera- 



also we have access by faith into this grace 
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the 
glory of God. Ver. 5. And hope maketh 
not ashamed; because the love of God is 
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy 
Ghost, which is given unto us. Kom. xiv. 
17. For the kingdom of God is not meat 
and drink ; but righteousness, and peace, 
and/oy in the Holy Ghost, Rom. xv. 13. 
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy 
and peace in believing, that ye may abound 
in hope, through the power of the Holy 
Ghost. Eph. i. 3. Blessed be the God and 
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath 
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in 
heavenly places in Christ : Ver. 4. Ac- 
cording as he hath chosen us in him be- 
fore the foundation of the world, that we 
should be holy and without blame before 
him in love. Ps. iv. 6. There be many 
that say, Who will shew us any good ? 
Lord, lift thou up the light of thy counte- 
nance upon us. Ver. 7. Thou hast put 
gladness in my heart, more than in the time 
that their corn and their wine increased. 
Ps. cxix. 32. I will run the way of thy 
commandments, when thou shalt enlarge 
my heart. 

° 1 John ii. 1 . My little children, these 
things write I unto you, that ye sin not. 
And if any man sin, we have an advocate 
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righte- 
ous : Ver. 2. And he is the propitiation 
for our sins ; and not for ours only, but 
also for the sins of the whole world. 
Rom. vi. 1. What shall we say then? 
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may 
abound? Ver. 2. God forbid. How shall 
we, that are dead to sin, live any longer 
therein ? Tit. ii. 11. For the grace of God 
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to 
all men, Ver. 12. Teaching us, that, deny- 
ing ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should 



live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this 
present world. Ver. 14. Who gave him- 
self for us, that he might redeem us from 
all iniquity, and purify unto himself a pecu- 
liar people, zealous of good works. 2 Cor. vii. 
1. Having therefore these promises, dearly 
beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all fil- 
thiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holi- 
ness in the fear of God. Rom. viii. 1. There 
is therefore now no condemnation to them 
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not 
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Ver. 
12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, 
not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 1 
John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we the sons 
of God ; and it doth not yet appear what 
we shall be : but we know that, when he 
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we 
shall see him as he is. Ver. 3. And every 
man that hath this hope in him, purifieth 
himself, even as he is pure. Ps. cxxx. 4. 
But there is forgiveness with thee, that 
thou may est be feared. 1 John i. 6. If we 
say that we hare fellowship with him, and 
walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the 
truth : Ver. 7. But if we walk in the 
light, as he is in the light, we have fellow- 
ship one with another, and the blood of 
Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all 
sin. 

IV. p Cant. v. 2. I sleep, but my heart 
waketh : it is the voice of my beloved 
that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my 
sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled : 
for my head is filled with dew, and my 
locks with the drops of the night. Ver. 
3. I have put of my coat; how shall I put 
it on ? 1 have washed my feet; how shall I 
defile them ? Ver. 6. I opened to my be- 
loved ; but my beloved had withdrawn him- 
self, and was gone : my soul failed when 
he spake : I sought him, but I could not find 
him; I called him, but he gave no answer. 



79 



THE LAW OF GOD. 



CHAP. XIX. 



tion of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived,* 
and by the which, in the mean time, they are supported 
from utter despair/ 



CHAP. XIX.— Of the Law of God. 



I. r\ OD gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by 
VX which he bound him, and all his posterity, to per- 
sonal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience ; promised life 



Ps. li. 8. Make me to hear joy and glad- 
ness ; that the bones which thou hast broken 
may rejoice. Ver. 12. Restore unto me the 
joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with 
thy free Spirit. Ver. 14. Deliver me from 
blood-guiltiness, God, thou God of my 
salvation ; and my tongue shall sing aloud 
of thy righteousness. Eph. iv. 30. And 
grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby 
ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 
Ver. 31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and 
anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put 
away from you, with all malice. Ps. lxxvii. 
1 . I cried unto God with my voice, even 
unto God with my voice ; and he gave 
ear unto me. Ver. 2. In the day of my 
trouble 1 sought the Lord : my sore ran in 
the night, and ceased not : my soul refused 
to be comforted. Ver. 3. 1 remembered God, 
and was troubled: I complained, and my 
spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Ver. 4. 
Thou holdest mine eyes waking : I am so 
| troubled that I cannot speak. Ver. 5 I 
have considered the days of old, the years 
i of ancient times. Ver. 6. I call to re- 
membrance my song in the night : I com- 
i mune with mine own heart ; and my spirit 
! made diligent search. Ver. 7. Will the 
Lord cast off for ever ? and will he be 
favourable no more ? Ver. 8. Is his mercy 
clean gone for ever ? doth his promise fail 
for evermore? Ver. 9. Hath God forgotten 
to be gracious ? hath he in anger shut up 
!| his tender mercies ? Selah. *Ver. 10. 

And I said, This is my infirmity : but I 
: will remember the years of the right hand 
j of the most High. Matt. xxvi. 69. Now 
| Peter sat without in the palace : and a 
damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also 
wast with Jesus of Galilee. Ver. 70. But 
he denied before them all, saying, I know not 
what thou sayest. Ver. 71 And when 



he was gone out into the porch, another 
maid saw him, and said unto them that were 
there, This fellow was also with Jesus of 
Nazareth. Ver. 72. And again he denied 
with an oath, I do not know the man. Ps. 
xxxi. 22. For i" said in my haste, I am cut 
off from before thine eyes : nevertheless 
thou heardest the voice of my supplica- 
tions when I cried unto thee. [Ps. lxxxviii. 
throughout.] Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you 
that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the 
voice of his servant, that walketh in dark- 
ness, and hath no light ? let him trust in 
the name of the Lord, and stay upon his 
God. 

i 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of 
God doth not commit sin ; for his seed re- 
maineth in him: and he cannot sin, because 
he is born of God. Luke xxii. 32. But I 
have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: 
and when thou art converted, strengthen 
thy brethren. Job xiii. 15. Though he 
slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will 
maintain mine own ways before him. Ps. 
lxxiii. 15. If I say, I will speak thus; be- 
hold, I should offend against the generation 
of thy children. Ps. li. 8, 12. [See letter 
p immediately before.] Isa. 1. 10. [See let- 
ter p immediately foregoing.] 

r Micah vii. 7. Therefore I will look unto 
the Lord; T will wait for the God of my sal- 
vation : my God will hear me. Ver. 8. 
Kejoice not against me, O mine enemy : 
when I fall, / shall arise; when I sit in 
darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. 
Ver. 9. I will bear the indignation of the 
Lord, because I have sinned against him, 
until he plead my cause, and execute 
judgment for me : he will bring me forth to 
the light, and I shall behold his righteous- 
ness. Jer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an 
everlasting covenant with them, that I will 



80 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XIX. 



upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach 
of it ; and endued him with power and ability to keep it. a 

II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule 
of righteousness ; and, as such, was delivered by God upon 
mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables ; b 



not turn away from them, to do them 
good ; but I will put my fear in their 
hearts, that they shall not depart from me. 
Isa. liv. 7. For a small moment have I for- 
saken thee; but with great mercies will I 
gather thee. Ver. 8. In a little wrath I 
hid my face from thee for a moment; but 
with everlasting kindness will I have mercy 
on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. 
Ver. 9. For this is as the waters of Noah 
unto me : for as I have sworn that the 
waters of Noah should no more go over 
the earth ; so have I sworn that I would not 
be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. Ver. 
10. For the mountains shall depart, and 
the hills shall be removed ; but my kind- 
ness shall not depart from thee, neither shall 
the covenant of my peace be removed, saith 
the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Ps. 
xxii. 1. My God, my God, why hast thou 
forsaken me ? why art thou so far from 
helping me, and from the words of my 
roaring ? [Ps. lxxxviii. throughout.] 

I. a Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us 
make man in our image, after our like- 
ness ; and let them have dominion over 
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of 
the air, and over the cattle, and over all 
the earth, and over every creeping thing 
that creepeth upon the earth. Ver. 27. 
So God created man in his own image : in 
the image of God created he him; male and 
female created he them. With Gen. ii. 
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good 
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the 
day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely 
die. Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, 
which have not the law, do by nature the 
things contained in the law, these, having 
not the law, are a law unto tliemselves : 
Ver. 15. Which shew the work of the law 
written in their hearts, their conscience also 
bearing witness, and. their thoughts the 
mean while accusing or else excusing one 
another. Rom. x. 5. For Moses describ- 
eth the righteousness which is of the law, 
That the man which doeth those things 
shall live by them. Rom. v. 12. Where- 
fore, as by one man sin entered into the 
world, and death by sin; and so death passed 
upon all men, for that all have sinned. Ver. 
19. For as by one man's disobedience many 



were made sinners; so by the obedience of 
one shall many be made righteous. Gal. 
iii. 10. For as many as are of the works 
of the law are under the curse : for it is 
written, Cursed is every one that continueth 
not in all things which are written in the 
book of the law to do them. Ver. 12. 
And the law is not of faith : but, The man 
that doeth them shall live in them. Eccl. 
vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, that 
God hath made man upright; but they have 
sought out many inventions. Job xxviii. 
28. And unto man he said, Behold, the 
fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to 
depart from evil is understanding. 

II. b James i. 25. But whoso looketh 
into the perfect law of liberty, and con- 
tinueth therein, he being not a forgetful 
hearer, but a doer of the work, this man 
shall be blessed in his deed. James ii. 8. 
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the 
scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour 
as thyself, ye do well. Ver. 10. For who- 
soever shall keep the whole law, and yet 
offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Ver. 
11. For he that said, Do not commit adul- 
tery, said also, Do not kill. Now, if thou 
commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou 
art become a transgressor of the law. 
Ver. 12. So speak ye, and so do, as they 
that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 
Rom. xiii. 8. Owe no man anything, but 
to love one another : for he that loveth an- 
other, hath fulfilled the law. Ver. 9. For 
this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, 
Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, 
Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou 
shalt not covet ; and if there be any other 
commandment, it is briefly comprehended in 
this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy 
neighbour as thyself. Deut. v. 32. Ye shall 
observe to do therefore as the Lordyour God 
hath commanded you: ye shall not turn 
aside to the right hand or to the left. 
Deut. x. 4. And he wrote on the tables, ac- 
cording to the first writing, the ten com- 
mandments, which the Lord spake unto 
you in the mount, out of the midst of the 
fire, in tb.e day of the assembly : and the 
Lord gave them unto me. Exod. xxiv. 1. 
And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee 
two tables of stone like unto the first ; 
and I will write upon these tables the words 



CHAP. XIX. 



THE LAW OF GOD. 



81 



the first four commandments containing our duty towards 
God, and the other six our duty to man. c 

III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was 
pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, 
ceremonial laws containing several typical ordinances; partly 
of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, 
and benefits ; d and partly holding forth divers instructions 
of moral duties. 6 All which ceremonial laws are now abro- 
gated under the New Testament/ 

IV. To them also, as a body politick, he gave sundry ju- 
dicial laws, which expired together with the state of that 
people, not obliging any other now, further than the general 
equity thereof may require/ 



that were in the first tables, which thou 
brakest. 

c Matt. xxii. 37. Jesus said unto him, 
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all 
thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all 
thy mind. Ver. 38. This is the first and 
great commandment. Ver. 39. And the 
second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy 
neighbour as thyself. Ver. 40. On these 
two commandments hang all the law and the 



III. * [Heb. Chapter ix.] Heb. x. 1. 
For the law haying a shadow of good things 
to come, and not the very image of the 
things, can never with those sacrifices, 
which they offered year by year continu- 
ally, make the comers thereunto perfect. 
Gal. iv. 1. Now I say, That the heir, as 
long as he is a child, differeth nothing from 
a servant, though he be lord of all ; Ver. 

2. But is under tutors and governors, un- 
til the time appointed of the father. Ver. 

3. Even so we, when we were children, were 
in bondage under the elements of the world. 
Col. ii. 17. Which are a shadow of things 
to come; but the body is of Christ. 

e 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the 
old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as 
ye are unleavened. For even Christ our 
passover is sacrificed for us. 2 Cor. vi. 
17. Wherefore, come out from among 
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, 
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will 
receive you. Jude, ver. 23. And others 
save with fear, pulling them out of the 
fire ; hating even the garment spotted by the 
flesh. 

f Col. ii. 14. Blotting out the handwriting 
of ordinances that was against us, which 
was contrary to us, and took it out of the 
way, nailing it to his cross. Ver. 16. Let 



no man therefore judge you in meat, or in 
drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the 
new moon, or of the sabbath days; Ver. 17. 
Which are a shadow of things to come ; but 
the body is of Christ. Dan. ix. 27. And he 
shall confirm the covenant with many for 
one week : and in the midst of the week 
he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation 
to cease, and for the overspreading of abo- 
minations he shall make it desolate, even 
until the consummation, and that deter- 
mined shall be poured upon the desolate. 
Eph. ii. 15. Having abolished in his flesh 
the enmity, even the law of commandments 
contained in ordinances; for to make in 
himself of twain one new man, so making 
peace; Ver. 16. And that he might recon- 
cile both unto God in one body by the cross, 
having slain the enmity thereby. 

IV. 8 [Exod. Chapter xxi. Exod. xxii. 1. 
to the 29th verse. See both in the Bible.] 
Gen. xlix. 10. The sceptre shall not depart 
from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between 
his feet, until Shiloh come ; and unto him 
shall the gathering of the people be. With 
1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every or- 
dinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether 
it be to the king, as supreme ; Ver. 14. 
Or unto governors, as unto them that are 
sent by him for the punishment of evil- 
doers, and for the praise of them that do 
well. Matt. v. 17. Think not that I am 
come to destroy the law or the prophets : I 
am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. With 
ver. 38. Ye have heard that it hath been 
said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a 
tooth : Ver. 39. But I say unto you, That 
ye resist not evil ; but whosoever shall 
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him 
the other also. 1 Cor. ix. 8. Say I these 
things as a man ? or saith not the law the 
F 



82 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XIX. 

V. The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified 
persons as others, to the obedience thereof ; h and that not 
only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in re- 
spect of the authority of G-od, the Creator, who gave it. 1 
Neither doth Christ in the gospel any way dissolve, but much 
strengthen this obligation.* 

VI. Although true believers be not under the law as a 
covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned ; 1 
yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others ; in that, 
as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their 
duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; m dis- 
covering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and 



same also ? Ver. 9. For it is written in the 
law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the 
mouth of the ox that treadeth out the 
corn. Doth God take care for oxen ? Vef . 

10. Or saith lie it altogether for our sakes ? 
For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: 
that he that ploweth should plow in hope ; 
and that he that thrasheth in hope should 
he partaker of his hope. 

V. t Rom. xiii. 8,9. [See above in letter b .] 
Yer. 10. Love worketh no ill to his neigh- 
bour : therefore love is the fulfilling of the 
law. Eph. vi. 2. Honour thy father and 
mother, (which is the first commandment 
with promise.) 1 John ii. 3. And hereby 
we do know that we know him, if we keep 
his commandments. Yer. 4. He that saith, 
I know him, and keepeth not his command- 
ments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 
Ver. 7. Brethren, I write no new com- 
mandment unto you, but an old command- 
ment, which ye had from the beginning: the 
old commandment is the word which ye have 
heard from the beginning. Yer. 8. Again, 
a new commandment I write unto you, 
which thing is true in him and in you; be- 
cause the darkness is past, and the true 
light now shineth. 

* James ii. 10, 11. [See in letter t>.] 

* Matt. v. 17. [See in letter s.] Yer. 18. 
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and 
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no 
wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 
Ver. 3 9. Whosoever therefore shall break 
one of these least commandments, and shall 
teach men so, he shall be called the hast in 
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall 
do and teach them, the same shall be called 
great in the kingdom of heaven. James 

11. 8. [See in letter b before.] Rom. iii. 31. 
Do we then make void the law through 
faith ? God forbid : yea, we establish the law. 



YI. 1 Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not 
have dominion over you : for ye are not 
under the law, but under grace. Gal. ii. 
16. Knowing that a man is not justified by 
the works of the law, but by the faith of 
Jesus Christ, even we have believed in 
Jesus Christ, that we might be justified 
by the faith of Christ, and not by the 
works of the law : for by the works of the 
law shall no flesh be justified. Gal. iii. 13. 
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the 
law, being made a curse for us : for it is 
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth 
on a tree. Gal. iv. 4. But when the ful- 
ness of the time was come, God sent forth 
his Son, made of a woman, made under the 
law, Yer. 5. To redeem them that were 
under the law, that we might receive the 
adoption of sons. Acts xiii. 39. And by 
him all that believe are justified from all 
things, from which ye could not be justified 
by the law of Moses. Rom. viii. 1. There 
is therefore now no condemnation to them 
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not 
after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

m Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is 
holy, and the commandment holy, and just, 
and good. Yer. 22. For / delight in the 
law of God after the inward man. Ver. 25. 
I thank God, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve 
the law of God, but with the flesh the law 
of sin. Ps. cxix. 4. Thou hast commanded 
us to keep thy precepts diligently. Yer. 5. 
that my ways were directed to keep thy 
statutes! Yer. 6. Then shall I not be 
ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy 
commandments. 1 Cor. vii. 19. Circumci- 
sion is nothing, and uncircumcision is no- 
thing, but the keeping of the commandments 
of God. Gal. v. 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 
22,23. See in the Bible. 



CHAP. XIX. 



THE LAW OF GOD. 



83 



lives ; n so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come 
to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against 
sin ; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of 
Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. p It is likewise 
of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that 
it forbids sin ; q and the threatenings of it serve to shew what 
even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they 
may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof 
threatened in the law/ _ The promises of it, in like manner, 
shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what bless- 
ings they may expect upon the performance thereof/ al- 
though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of 



n Rom. vii. 7. What shall we say then ? 
Is the law sin ? God forbid. Nay, i" had 
not known sin but by the law : for I had not 
known lust, except the law had said, Thou 
Shalt not covet. Eom. iii. 20. Therefore 
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh 
be justified in his sight : for by the law is 
the knowledge of sin. 

James i. 23. For if any be a hearer of 
the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a 
man beholding his natural face in a glass : 
Ver. 24. For he beholdeth himself, and 
goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth 
what manner of man he was. Ver. 25. 
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of 
liberty, and continueth therein, he being 
not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the 
work, this man shall be blessed in his 
deed. Eom. vii. 9. For / was alive with- 
out the law once ; but when the command- 
ment came, sin revived, and I died. Ver. 14. 
For we know that the law is spiritual ; 
but I am carnal, sold under sin. Ver. 24. 
wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver 
me from the body of this death ? 

p Gal. iii. 24. Wherefore the law was 
our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that 
we might be justified by faith. Rom. vii. 
24. [See before in letter °. Verse 25 in 
letter™.] Rom. viii. 3. For what the law 
could not do, in that it zcas weak through 
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the 
likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con- 
demned sin in the flesh ; Ver. 4. That the 
righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in 
us, who walk not after the flesh, but after 
the Spirit. 

9 James ii. 11. For he that said, Do not 
commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. 
Now, if thou commit no adultery, yet if 
thou kill, thou art become a transgressor 
of the law. Ps. cxix. 101. I have re- 



frained my feet from every evil way, that 

1 might keep thy word. Ver. 104. Through 
thy precepts I get understanding : therefore 
/ hate every false way. Ver. 128. There- 
fore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all 
things to be right; and / hate every false 
way. 

r Ezra ix. 13. And after all that is come 
upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great 
trespass, seeing that thou our God hast 
punished us less than our iniquities deserve, 
and hast given us such deliverance as this ; 
Ver. 14. Should we again break thy com- 
mandments, and join in affinity with the 
people of these abominations ? wouldest 
not thou be angry with us till thou hadst 
consumed us, so that there should be no rem- 
nant nor escaping ? Ps. lxxxix. 30. If his 
children forsake my law, and walk not in 
my judgments; Ver. 31. If they break my 
statutes, and keep not my commandments; 
Ver. 32. Then will I visit their transgres- 
sion with the rod, and their iniquity with 
stripes. Ver. 33. Nevertheless my loving- 
kindness will I not utterly take from him, 
nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Ver. 34. 
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the 
thing that is gone out of my lips. 

8 [Lev. xxvi. to the 14th verse.] With 

2 Cor. vi. 16. And what agreement hath 
the temple of God with idols ? for ye are 
the temple of the living God ; as God hath 
said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; 
and 1 will be their God, and they shall be my 
people. Eph. vi. 2. Honour thy father and 
mother, (which is the first commandment 
with promise,) Ver. 3. That it maybe well 
with thee, and thou mayest live long on the 
earth. Ps. xxxvii. 11. But the meek shall 
inherit the earth; and shall delight them- 
selves in the abundance of peace. With 
Matt. v. 5. Blessed are the meek : for they 



84 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XX. 



works : * so as a man's doing good, and refraining from evil, 
because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from 
the other, is no evidence of his being under the law, and not 
under grace/ 

VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law con- 
trary to the grace of the gospel, but do sweetly comply with 
it ; w the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of 
man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God 
revealed in the law requireth to be done. x 



CHAP. XX. — Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of 
Conscience. 

I. FT! HE liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers 
X under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the 
guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the 



shall inherit the earth. Ps. xix. 11. More- 
over, by them is thy servant warned : and 
in keeping of them there is great reward. 

t Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is 
not justified by the works of the law, but by 
the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have 
believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be 
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by 
the works of the law : for by the works of 
the law shall no flesh be justified. Luke 
xvii. 10. So likewise ye, when ye shall 
have done all those things which are com- 
manded you, say, We are unprofitable ser- 
vants : we have done that which was our 
duty to do. 

v Rom. vi. 12. Let not sin therefore 
reign in your mortal body, that ye should 
obey it in the lusts thereof. Ver. 14. For 
sin shall not have dominion over you : for 
ye are not under the law, but under grace. 
1 Pet. iii. 8. Finally, be ye all of one 
mind, having compassion one of another ; 
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous : 
Ver. 9. Not rendering evil for evil, or 
railing for railing : but contrariwise bless- 
ing ; knowing that ye are thereunto called, 
that ye should inherit a blessing. Ver. 

10. For he that will love life, and see good 
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, 
and his lips that they speak no guile: Ver. 

11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let 
him seek peace, and ensue it. Ver. 12. 



For the eyes of the Lord are over the 
righteous, and his ears are open unto their 
prayers : but the face of the Lord is against ] 
them that do evil. With Ps. xxxiv. 12. 
What man is he that desireth life, and 
loveth many days, that he may see good ? 
Ver. 13. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy 
lips from speaking guile. Ver. 14. Depart 
from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pur - 
sue it. Ver. 15. The eyes of the Lord are 
upon the righteous, and his ears are open 
unto their cry. Ver. 16. The face of the 
Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off 
the remembrance of them from the earth. 
Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving a 
kingdom which cannot be moved, let us 
have grace, whereby we may serve God accept- 
ably with reverence and godly fear: Ver. 
29. For our God is a consuming fire. 

VII. w Gral. iii. 21. Is the law then against 
the promises of God 9 God forbid: for if 
there had been a law given which could 
have given life, verily righteousness should 
have been by the law. 

x Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my 
Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in 
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judg- 
ments, and do them. Heb. viii. 10. For 
this is the covenant that I will make with 
the house of Israel, after those days, saith 
the Lord ; / will put my laws into their 
mind, and write them in their hearts; and I 



CHAP. XX. 



CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, ETC 



85 



moral law ; a and in their being delivered from this present 
evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin, b from the 
evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, 
and everlasting damnation ; c as also in their free access to 
God, d and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of 
slavish fear, but a child-like love, and willing mind. e All 
which were common also to believers under the law ; f but 
under the new testament, the liberty of Christians is fur- 
ther enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the cere- 
monial law, to which the Jewish Church was subjected, 8 

will be to them a God, and they shall be 
to me a people. With Jer. xxxi. 33. But 
this shall be the covenant that I will make 
with the house of Israel ; After those 
days, saith the Lord, i" will put my law in 
their inward parts, and write it in their 
hearts; and will be their God, and they 
shall be my people. 

L a Tit. ii. 14. Who gave himself for 
us, that he might redeem its from all ini- 
quity, and purify unto himself a peculiar 
people, zealous of good works. 1 Thess. i. 
10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, 
whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, 
which delivered us from the wrath to come. 
Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed us from 
the curse of the law, being made a curse for 
us : for it is written, Cursed is every one 
that hangeth on a tree. 

b Gal. i. 4. Who gave himself for our 
sins, that he might deliver us from this pre- 
sent evil world, according to the will of 
God and our Father. Col. i. 13. Who 
hath delivered us from the power of darkness, 
and hath translated us into the kingdom 
of his dear Son. Acts xxvi. 18. To open 
their eyes, and to turn them from darkness 
to light, and from the power of Satan unto 
God, that they may receive forgiveness of 
sins, and inheritance among them which 
are sanctified by faith that is in me. Rom. 
vi. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over 
you : for ye are not under the law, but 
under grace. 

c Rom. viii. 28. We know that all things 
work together for good to them that love God, 
to them who are the called according to 
his purpose. Ps. cxix. 71. It is good for 
me that 1 have been afflicted; that I might 
learn thy statutes. 1 Cor. xv. 54. So 
when this corruptible shall have put on 
incorruption, and this mortal shall have 
put on immortality, then shall be brought 
to pass the saying that is written, Death 
is swallowed up in victory. Ver. 55. 



! where is thy sting ? grave ! where is 
thy victory ? Ver. 56. The sting of death 
is sin ; and the strength of sin is the law. 
Ver. 57. Rut thanks be to God, which 
giveth us the victory, through our Lord 
Jesus Christ. Rom. viii. 1. There is there- 
fore now no condemnation to them which 
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after 
the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

d Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justified 
by faith, we have peace with God, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ : Ver. 2. Ry whom 
also we have access by faith into this grace 
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of 
the glory of God. 

e Rom. viii. 14. For as many as are led 
by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of 
God. Ver. 15. For ye have not received 
the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye 
have received the spirit of adoption, where- 
by we cry, Abba, Father. 1 John iv. 18. 
There is no fear in love; but perfect love 
casteth out fear : because fear hath torment. 
He that feareth is not made perfect in 
love. 

f Gal. iii. 9. So then they which be of 
faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 
Ver. 14. That the blessing of Abraham 
might come on the Gentiles through Jesus 
Christ, that we might receive the promise 
of the Spirit through faith. 

g Gal. iv. 1. Now I say, That the heir, as 
long as he is a child, differ eth nothing from 
a servant, though he be lord of all ; Ver. 

2. But is under tutors and governors, until 
the time appointed of the father. Ver. 

3. Even so we, when we were children, were 
in bondage under the elements of the world. 
Ver. 6. And because ye are sons, God hath 
sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your 
hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Ver. 7. 
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but 
a son; and if a son, then an heir of God 
through Christ. Gal. v. 1. Stand fast 
therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath 
made us free, and be not entangled again 



83 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XX. 



and in greater boldness of access to the throne of graced 
and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, 
than believers under the law did ordinarily partake 
of. 1 

II. God alone is lord of the conscience, 1 " and hath 
left it free from the doctrines and commandments of 
men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or be- 
side it, in matters of faith or worship. 1 So that to believe 
such doctrines, or to obey such commandments out of 
conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience : m and 



■with the yoke of bondage. Acts xv. 10. 
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put 
a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which 
neither our fathers nor we were able to 
"bear ? Ver. 11. But we believe that, 
through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
we shall be saved, even as they. 

& Heb. iv. 14. Seeing then that we have 
a great high priest, that is passed into the 
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold 
fast our profession. Ver. 16. Let us 
therefore come boldly unto the throne of 
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find 
grace to help in time of need. Heb. x. 19. 
Haying therefore, brethren, boldness to enter 
into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Ver. 
20. By a new and living way, which he 
hath consecrated for us through the vail, 
that is to say, his flesh; Ver. 21. And hav- 
ing an high priest over the house of God ; 
Ver. 22. Let us draw near with a true 
heart, in full assurance of faith, having 
our hearts sprinkled from an evil con- 
science, and our bodies washed with pure 
water. 

i John vii. 38. He that believeth on me, 
as the scripture hath said, out of his belly 
shall flow rivers of living water. Ver. 39. 
(But this spake he of the Spirit which they 
that believe on him shoidd receive : for the 
Holy Ghost was not yet given ; because 
that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 2 Cor. 
iii. 13. And not as Moses, which put avail 
over his face, that the children of Israel 
could not steadfastly look to the end of that 
which is abolished. Ver. 17. Now the Lord 
is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the 
Lord is, there is liberty. Ver. 18. But we 
all, with open face beholding as in a glass 
the glory of the Lord, are changed into the 
same image, from glory to glory, even as 
by the Spirit of the Lord. 

II. k James iv. 12. There is one lawgiver, 
who is able to save and to destroy : who 
art thou that judgest another? Rom. 



xiv. 4. Who art thou that judgest another 
man's servant ? to his own master he stand- 
eth or falleth; yea, he shall be holden up : 
for God is able to make him stand. 

1 Acts iv. 19. But Peter and John an- 
swered and said unto them, Whether it be 
right in the sight of God to hearken unto 
you more than unto God, judge ye. Acts 
v. 29. Then Peter and the other apostles 
answered and said, We ought to obey God 
rather than men. 1 Cor. vii. 23. Ye are 
bought with a price : be not ye the servants 
of men. Matt, xxiii. 8. But be not ye 
called Rabbi : for one is your Master, even 
Christ ; and all ye are brethren. Ver. 9. 
And call no man your father upon the 
earth : for one is your Father, which is in 
heaven. Ver. 10. Neither be ye called 
masters : for one is your Master, even 
Christ. 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we 
have dominion over your faith, but are 
helpers of your joy : for by faith ye stand. 
Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship 
me, teaching for doctrines the commandments 
of men. 

m Col. ii. 20. Wherefore, if ye be dead 
with Christ from the rudiments of the 
world, why, as though living in the world, 
are ye subject to ordinances, Ver. 22. 
(Which all are to perish with the using,) 
after the commandments and doctrines of men ? 
Ver. 23. Which things have indeed a shew 
of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and 
neglecting of the body; not in any honour 
to the satisfying of the flesh. Gal. i. 10. 
For do I now persuade men, or God ? or 
do I seek to please men ? for if L yet pleased 
men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 
Gal. ii. 4. And that because of false breth- 
ren unawares brought in, who came in 
privily to spy out our liberty which we have 
in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us 
into bondage : Ver. 5. To whom we gave 
place by subjection, no, not for an hour, 
that the truth of the gospel might continue 



CHAP. XX. CHBISTIAN LIBERTY, ETC. 



87 



the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind 
obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason 
also. n 

III. They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do 
practise any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the 
end of Christian liberty ; which is, that, being delivered out 
of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord with- 
out fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the 
days of our life. 

IV. And because the powers which God hath ordained, 
and the liberty which Christ hath purchased, are not intended 
by God to destroy, but mutually to uphold and preserve one 
another ; they who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, shall 
oppose any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether 
it be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God. p 
And for their publishing of such opinions, or maintaining of 
such practices, as are contrary to the light of nature, or to 
the known principles of Christianity, whether concerning 
faith, worship, or conversation ; or to the power of godliness; 
or such erroneous opinions or practices, as either in their 



with you. Gal. v. 1. Standfast therefore 
in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us 
free, and he not entangled again with the yoke 
of bondage. 

n Kom. x. 17. So then faith eometh by 
hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 
Kom. xiv. 23. And he that doubteth is 
damned if he eat, because he eateth not of 
faith : for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. 
Isa. viii. 20. To the law and to the testi- 
mony : if they speak not according to this 
word, it is because there is no light in 
them. Acts xvii. 11. These were more 
noble than those in Thessalonica, in that 
they received the word with all readiness 
of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, 
whether those things were so. John iv. 22. 
Ye worship ye know not what : we know 
what we worship : for salvation is of the 
Jews. Hos. v. 11. Ephraim is oppressed 
and broken in judgment, because he wil- 
lingly walked after the commandment. Rev. 
xiii. 12. And he exerciseth all the power 
of the first beast before him, and causeth 
the earth, and them which dwell therein, to 
worship the first beast, whose deadly wound 
was healed. Ver. 16. And he caused all, 
both small and great, rich and poor, free 
and bond, to receive a mark in their right 
hand, or in their foreheads : Ver. 17. And 



that no man might buy or sell, save lie that 
had the mark, or the name of the beast, or 
the number of his name. Jer. viii. 9. The 
wise men are ashamed, they are dismay- 
ed and taken : lo, they have rejected the 
word of the Lord} and what wisdom is in 
them? 

HI. Gal. v. 13. For, brethren, ye 
have been called unto liberty ; only use 
not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but 
by love serve one another. 1 Pet. ii. 16. 
As free, and not using your liberty for a 
cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants 
of God. 2 Pet. ii. 19. While they promise 
them liberty, they themselves are the ser- 
vants of corruption: for of whom a man is 
overcome, of the same is he brought in bond- 
age. John viii. 34. Jesus answered them, 
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever 
committeth sin is the servant of sin. Luke 
l. 74. That he would grant unto us, that 
we, being delivered out of the hands of our 
enemies, might serve him without fear. Ver. 
75. In holiness and righteousness before 
him, all the days of our life. 

IV. p Matt. xii. 25. And Jesus knew 
their thoughts, and said unto them, Every 
kingdom divided against itself is brought to 
desolation; and every city or house divided 
against itself shall not stand. 1 Pet. ii. 13. 



88 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XX. 



own nature, or in the manner of publishing or maintain- 
ing them, are destructive to the external peace and order 
which Christ hath established in the church ; they may law- 
fully be called to account^ and proceeded against by the 



Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man 
for the Lord's sake : whether it be to the 
king, as supreme ; Ver. 14. Or unto 
governors, as unto them that are sent by him 
for the punishment of evil-doers, and for 
the praise of them that do well. Ver. 16. 
As free, and not using your liberty for a 
cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants 
of God. [Eom. xiii. 1. to the 8th verse.] 
Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have the rule 
over you, and submit yourselves: for they 
watch for your souls, as they that must give 
account; that they may do it with joy, and 
not with grief : for that is unprofitable for 
you. 

q Horn. i. 32. Who, knowing the judg- 
ment of God, that they which commit such 
things are worthy of death, not only do the 
same, but have pleasure in them that do 
them. With 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported 
commonly that there is fornication among 
you, and such fornication as is not so much 
as named among the Gentiles, that one 
should have his father's wife. Ver. 5. 
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the 
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may 
be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 
Ver. 11. But now I have written unto 
you not to keep company, if any man that 
is called a brother be a fornicator, or cove- 
tous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunk- 
ard, or an extortioner; with such an one no 
not to eat. Ver. 13. But them that are 
without God judgeth. Therefore put 
away from among yourselves that wicked per- 
son. 2 John, ver. 10. If there come any 
unto you, and bring not this doctrine, re- 
ceive him not into your house, neither bid 
him Godspeed: Ver. 11. For he that bid- 
deth him God speed is partaker of his evil 
deeds. And 2 Thess. iii. 14. And if any 
man obey not our word by this epistle, note 
that man, and have no company with him, 
that he may be ashamed. And 1 Tim. vi. 
3. If any man teach otherwise, and consent 
not to wholesome words, even the words of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine 
which is according to godliness; Ver. 4. 
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting 
about questions and strifes of words, 
whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil 
surmisings, Ver. 5. Perverse disputings 
of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of 
the truth, supposing that gain is godli- 



ness : from such withdraw thyself. And 
Tit. i. 10. For there are many unruly and 
vain talkers and deceivers, specially they 
of the circumcision: Ver. 11. Whose 
mouths must be stopped; who subvert 
whole houses, teaching things which they 
ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Ver. 
13. This witness is true : wherefore re^ 
buke them sharply, that they may be sound 
in the faith. And Tit. iii. 10. A man 
that is an heretick, after the first and second 
admonition, reject. With Matt, xviii. 15. 
Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass 
against thee, go and tell him his fault be- 
tween thee and him alone : if he shall hear 
thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Ver. 
1 6. But if he will not hear thee, then take 
with thee one or two more, that in the mouth 
of two or three witnesses every word may 
be established. Ver. 17. And if he shall 
neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: 
but if he neglect to hear the church, let 
him be unto thee as an heathen man and a 
publican. 1 Tim. i. 19. Holding faith, 
and a good conscience ; which some hav- 
ing put away, concerning faith have made 
shipwreck: Ver. 20. Of whom is Hyme- 
neus and Alexander ; whom I have de- 
livered unto Satan, that they may learn not 
to blaspheme. Kev. ii. 2. I know thy 
works, and thy labour, and thy patience, 
and how thou canst not bear them which are 
evil : and thou hast tried them which say 
they are apostles, and are not, and hast 
found them liars. Ver. 14. But I have a 
few things against thee, because thou hast 
there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, 
who taught Balac to cast a stumbling- 
block before the children of Israel, to eat 
things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit 
fornication. Ver. 15. So hast thou also 
them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolai- 
tanes, which thing I hate. Ver. 20. Not- 
withstanding I have a few things against 
thee, because thou sufferest that woman 
Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, 
to teach and to seduce my servants to com- 
mit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed 
unto idols. Bev. iii. 9. Behold, I will 
make them of the synagogue of Satan, which 
say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie ; 
behold, I will make them to come and 
worship before thy feet, and to know that 
I have loved thee. 




CHAP. XXI. RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND THE SABBATH-DAY. 89 

censures of the church, and by the power of the civil 
magistrate/ 



CHAP. XXI. — Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath-day, 



|- HP HE light of nature sheweth that there is a God, who 
J_ hath lordship and sovereignty over all ; is good, and 
doeth good unto all ; and is therefore to be feared, loved, 
praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the 



r [Deut. xiii. 6. to the 12th.] Eom. xiii. 
3. For rulers are not a terror to good works, 
but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be 
afraid of the power ? Do that which is 
good, and thou shalt have praise of the 
same. Ver. 4. For he is the minister of 
God to thee for good. But if thou do that 
which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not 
the sword in vain : for he is the minister of 
God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him 
that doeth evil. With 2 John, verses 10, 
11. [See in letter <*.] Ezra vii. 23. What- 
soever is commanded by the God of heaven, 
let it be diligently done for the house of 
the God of heaven : for why should there be 
wrath against the realm of the king and his 
sons ? Ver. 25. And thou, Ezra, after the 
wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, 
set magistrates and judges, which mag judge 
all the people that are beyond the river, all 
such as know the laws of thy God ; and 
teach ye them that know them not. Ver. 

26. And whosoever will not do the law of 
thy God, and the law of the king, let judg- 
ment be executed speedily upon him, whether 
it be unto death, or to banishment, or to con- 
fiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Ver. 

27 . Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, 
which hath put such a thing as this in the 
king's heart, to beautify the house of the 
Lord which is in Jerusalem ; Ver. 28. 
And hath extended mercy unto me before 
the king and his counsellors, and before 
all the king's mighty princes : and I was 
strengthened as the hand of the Lord my 
God was upon me; and I gathered to- 
gether out of Israel chief men to go up 
with me. Rev. xvii. 12. And the ten 
horns which thou sawest are ten kings, 
which have received no kingdom as yet ; 
but receive power as kings one hour with 
the beast. Ver. 16. And the ten horns 
which thou sawest upon the beast, these 



shall hate the whore, and shall make her 
desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, 
and burn her with fire. Ver. 17. For God 
hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, 
and to agree, and give their kingdom unto 
the beast, until the words of God shall be 
fulfilled. Neh. xiii. 15. In those days saw 
I in Judah some treading wine-presses on 
the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and 
lading asses ; as also wine, grapes, and 
figs, and all manner of burdens, which they 
brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day : 
and I testified against them in the day where- 
in they sold victuals. Ver. 17. Then 7" 
contended with the nobles of Judah, and said 
unto them, What evil thing is this that ye 
do, and profane the sabbath- day? Ver. 
21. Then 1 testified against them, and said 
unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall ? 
if ye do so again, / will lay hands on you. 
From that time forth came they no more 
on the sabbath. Ver. 22. And 1 com- 
manded the Levites, that they should cleanse 
themselves, and that they should come and 
keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath-day. 
Remember me, my God, concerning this 
also, and spare me according to the great- 
ness of thy mercy. Ver. 25. And I con- 
tended with them, and cursed them, and 
smote certain of them, and plucked off their 
hair, and made them swear by God, saying, 
Ye shall not give your daughters unto their 
sons, nor take their daughters unto your 
sons, or for yourselves. Ver. 30. Thus 
cleansed I them from all strangers, and ap- 
pointed the wards of the priests and the 
Levites, every one in his business. 2 Kings 
xxiii. 5. And he put down the idolatrous 
priests, whom the kings of Judah had or- 
dained to burn incense in the high places 
in the cities of Judah, and in the places 
round about Jerusalem ; them also that 
burnt incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to 



90 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXI. 



heart, and with all the soul, and with all the might. a But 
the acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted 
by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he 
may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and de- 
vices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible 



the moon, and to the planets, and to all the 
host of heaven. Ver. 6. And he brought 
out the grove from the house of the Lord, 
without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kid- 
ron, and burnt it at the brook Kidron, and 
stamped it small to powder, and cast the 
powder thereof upon the graves of the children 
of the people. Ver. 9. Nevertheless the 
priests of the high places came not up to the 
altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, but they did 
eat of the unleavened bread among their 
brethren. Ver. 20. And he slew all the 
priests of the high places that were there 
upon the altars, and burnt men's bones 
upon them, and returned to Jerusalem. 
Ver. 21. And the king commanded all the 
people, saying, Keep the passover unto the 
Lord your God, as it is written in the book 
Of this covenant. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. 
And Josiah took away all the abominations 
out of all the countries that pertained to the 
children of Israel, and made all that were 
present in Israel to serve, even to serve the 
Lord their God. And all his days they 
departed not from following the Lord, the 
God of their fathers. 2 Chron. xv. 12. 
And they entered into a covenant to seek 
the Lord God of their fathers with all their 
heart, and with all their soul ; Ver. 13. 
That whosoever would not seek the Lord God 
of Israel should be put to death, whether 
small or great, whether man or woman. 
Ver. 16. And also concerning Maachah, 
the mother of Asa the king, he removed her 
from being queen, because she had made an 
idol in a grove : and Asa cut down her idol, 
and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook 
Kidron. Dan. iii. 29. Therefore I make 
a decree, That every people, nation, and 
language, which speak any thing amiss 
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and 
Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their 
houses shall be made a dunghill; because 
there is no other God that can deliver after 
this sort. 1 Tim. ii. 2. For kings, and for 
all that are in authority; that we may lead a 
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and 
honesty. Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be 
thy nursing-fathers, and their queens thy 
nursing -mothers : they shall bow down to 
thee with their face toward the earth, and 
lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt 



know that I am the Lord : for they shall 
not be ashamed that wait for me. Zech. 
xiii. 2. And it shall come to pass in that 
day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will 
cut off the names of the idols out of the 
land, and they shall no more be remember- 
ed; and also I will cause the prophets 
and the unclean spirit to pass out of the 
land. Ver. 3. And it shall come to pass, 
that when any shall yet prophesy, then 
his father and his mother that begat him 
shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for 
thou speakest lies in the name of the 
Lord : and his father and his mother that 
begat him shall thrust him through when he 
prophesieth. 

I. a Eom. i. 20. For the invisible things 
of him from the creation of the world are 
clearly seen, being understood by the things 
that are made, even his eternal power and 
Godhead; so that they are without excuse. 
Acts xvii. 24. God, that made the world, 
and all things therein, seeing that he is 
Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in 
temples made with hands. Ps. cxix. 68. 
Thou art good, and doest good : teach me 
thy statutes. Jer. x. 7. Who would not 
fear thee, King of nations ? for to thee 
doth it appertain : forasmuch as among all 
the wise men of the nations, and in all 
their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee. 
Ps. xxxi. 23. love the Lord, all ye his 
saints : for the Lord preserveth the faith- 
ful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud 
doer. Ps. xviii. 3. I will call upon tlie 
Lord, who is worthy to be praised : so shall 
I be saved from mine enemies. Eom. x. 
1 2. For there is no difference between the 
Jew and the Greek ; for the same Lord 
over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 
Ps. lxii. 8. Trust in him at all times; ye 
people, pour out your heart before him : 
God is a refuge for us. Josh. xxiv. 14. 
Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him 
in sincerity and in truth : and put away 
the gods which your fathers served on the 
other side of the flood, and in Egypt ; and 
serve ye the Lord. Mark xii. 33. And to 
love him with all the heart, and with all the 
understanding, and with all the soul, and 
with all the strength, and to love his neigh- 



CHAP. XXI. RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND THE SABBATH-DAY. 91 



representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy 
Scripture. b 

II. Keligious worship is to be given to God, the Father, 
Son, and Holy Ghost ; and to him alone : c not to angels, 
saints, or any other creature : d and, since the fall, not with- 
out a Mediator ; nor in the mediation of any other but of 
Christ alone. 6 

III. Prayer, with thanksgiving, being one special part 
of religious worship/ is by God required of all men ; g and, 
that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the name of 
the Son, h by the help of his Spirit/ according to his will, k 



bour as himself, is more than all whole 
burnt -offerings and sacrifices. 

b Deut. xii. 32. What thing soever I 
command you, observe to do it : thou shalt 
not add thereto, nor diminish from it. 
Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do worship 
me, teaching for doctrines the commandments 
of men. Actsxvii. 25. Neither is worship- 
ped with men's hands, as though he needed 
any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and 
breath, and all things. Matt. iv. 9. And 
saith unto him, All these things will I 
give thee, if thou wilt fall down and wor- 
ship me. Ver. 10. Then saith Jesus unto 
him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is writ- 
ten, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, 
and him only shalt thou serve. [Deut. 
xv. to the 20th Verse.] Exod. xx. 4. 
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven 
image, or any likeness of any thing that is 
in heaven above, or that is in the earth £e- 
neath, or that is in the water under the 
earth : Ver. 5. Thou shalt not bow down 
thyself to them, nor serve them : for I the 
Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting 
the iniquity of the fathers upon the chil- 
dren unto the third and fourth generation 
of them that hate me ; Ver. 6. And shew- 
ing mercy unto thousands of them that 
love me, and keep my commandments. Col. 
ii. 23. Which things have indeed a shew of 
wisdom in will worship, and humility, and 
neglecting of the body ; not in any honour 
to the satisfying of the flesh. 

II. c Matt. iv. 10. [See before in letter 
b] With John v. 23. That all men should 
honour the Son, even as they honour the 
Father. He that honoureth not the Son, 
honoureth not the Father which hath sent 
him. And 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be 
with you all. Amen. 

d Col. ii. 18. Let no man beguile you of 



your reward in a voluntary humility, and 
worshipping of angels, intruding into those 
things which he hath not seen, vainly 
puffed up by his fleshly mind. Rev. xix. 
10. And I fell at his feet to worship him. 
And he said unto me, See thou do it not; 
I am thy fellow -servant, and of thy brethren 
that have the testimony of Jesus : worship 
God : for the testimony of Jesus is the 
spirit of prophecy. Eom. i. 25. Who 
changed the truth of God into a lie, and 
worshipped and served the creature more than 
the Creator, who isblessedfor ever. Amen. 

e John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, 
I am the way, and the truth, and the life : 
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 
1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one 
mediator between God and men, the man 
Christ Jesus. Eph. ii. 18. For through him 
we both have access by one Spirit unto the 
Father. Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye 
do in word or deed, do all in the name of 
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and 
the Father by him. 

III. f Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing : 
but in every thing by prayer and supplica- 
tion, with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
made known unto God. 

gPs. lxv. 2. thou that hearest prayer, 
unto thee shall all flesh come. 

h John xiv. 13. And whatsoever ye shall 
ask in my name, that will I do, that the 
Father may be glorified in the Son. Ver. 
14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, 
I will do it. 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as 
lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, 
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual 
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

1 Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also 
helpeth our infirmities : for we know not 
what we should pray for as we ought ; 
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for 
us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

k 1 John v. 14. And this is the conn- 



92 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXI. 



with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, 
love, and perseverance ; 1 and, if vocal, in a known 
tongue. m 

IY. Prayer is to be made for things lawful, 11 and for all 
sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter ; but not for 
the dead, p nor for those of whom it may be known that they 
have sinned the sin unto death. q 



dence that we have in him, that, if we ask 
any thing according to his willy he heareth 
us. 

i Ps. xlvii. 7. For God is the King of 
all the earth : sing ye praises with under- 
standing. Eccl. v. 1. Keep thy foot when 
thou goest to the house of God, and be more 
ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of 
fools : for they consider not that they do 
evil. Ver. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, 
and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any 
thing before God : for God is in heaven, 
and thou upon earth ; therefore let thy 
words be few. Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, 
we receiving a kingdom which cannot be 
moved, let us have grace, whereby we may 
serve God acceptably with reverence and 
godly fear. Gen. xviii. 27. And Abraham 
answered and said, Behold now, I have taken 
upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am 
but dust and ashes. James v. 16. Confess 
your faults one to another, and pray one 
for another, that ye may be healed. The 
effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man 
availeth much. James i. 6. But let him 
ask in faith, nothing wavering : for he that 
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven 
with the wind and tossed. Ver. 7. For 
let not that man think that he shall receive 
any thing of the Lord. Mark xi. 24. 
Therefore I say unto you, What things so- 
ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that 
ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 
Matt. vi. 12. And forgive us our debts, 
as we forgive our debtors. Ver. 14. For if 
ye forgive men their trespasses, your hea- 
venly Father will also forgive you : Ver. 15. 
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, 
neither will your Father forgive your tres- 
passes. Col. iv. 2. Continue in prayer, and 
watch in the same with thanksgiving. 
Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all 
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and 
watching thereunto with all perseverance 
and supplication for all saints. 

m 1 Cor. xiv. 14. For if 1 pray in an un- 
known tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my 
understanding is unfruitful. 

IV. n [1 John v. 14. See letter k .] 

1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, 



first of all, supplications, prayers, inter- 
cessions, and giving of thanks, be made for 
all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all 
that are in authority ; that we may lead 
a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness 
and honesty. John xvii. 20. Neither pray 

1 for these alone, but for them also which 
shall believe on me through their word. 

2 Sam. vii. 29. Therefore now let it please 
thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it 
may continue for ever before thee : for thou, 
Lord God, hast spoken it : and with thy 
blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed 
for ever. Ruth iv. 12. And let thy house 
be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar 
bare unto Judah, of the seed which the 
Lord shall give thee of this young woman. 

p 2 Sam. xii. 21. Then said his servants 
unto him, What thing is this that thou 
hast done ? Thou didst fast and weep for 
the child, while it was alive; but when the 
child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 
Ver. 22. And he said, While the child was 
yet alive, I fasted and wept : for I said, 
Who can tell whether God will be gracious 
to me, that the child may live ? Ver. 23. 
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? 
can I bring him back again ? I shall go to 
him, but he shall not return to me. With 
Luke xvi. 25. But Abraham said, Son, 
remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst 
thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil 
things ; but now he is comforted, and thou 
art tormented. Ver. 26. And besides all 
this, between us and you there is a great 
gulf fixed : so that they which would pass 
from hence to you cannot ; neither can they 
pass to us, that would come from thence. Rev. 
xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven 
saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead 
which die in the Lord from henceforth : 
Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest 
from their labours ; and their works do fol- 
low them. 

<i 1 John v. 16. If any man see his 
brother sin a sin which is not unto death, 
he shall ask, and he shall give him life for 
them that sin not unto death. There is a 
sin unto death : I do not say that he shall 
pray for it. 



CHAP. XXI. RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND THE SABBATH-DAY. 93 



V. The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear ; r the 
sound preaching, 8 and conscionable hearing of the word, in 
obedience unto God, with understanding, faith, and reve- 
rence / singing of psalms with grace in the heart ; v as also 
the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacra- 
ments instituted by Christ ; are all parts of the ordinary re- 
ligious worship of God : w besides religious oaths x and vows/ 
solemn fastings/ and thanksgivings upon special occasions/ 



V. r Acts xv. 21. For Moses of old time 
hath in every city them that preach him, 
being read in the synagogues every sabbath- 
day. Rev. i. 3. Blessed is he that readeth, 
and they that hear the words of this pro- 
phecy, and keep those things which are 
written therein : for the time is at hand. 

s 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word; be in- 
stant in season, out of season ; reprove, re- 
buke, exhort with all long-suffering and 
doctrine. 

t James i. 22. But be ye doers of the 
word, and not hearers only, deceiving your 
own selves. Acts x. 33. Immediately 
therefore I sent to thee ; and thou hast 
well done that thou art come. Now there- 
fore are vje all here present before God, to 
hear all things that are commanded thee of 
God. Matt. xiii. 19. When any one hear- 
eth the word of the kingdom, and under- 
standeth it not, then cometh the wicked 
one, and catcheth away that which was 
sown in his heart. This is he which re- 
ceived seed by the wayside. Heb. iv. 2. 
For unto us was the gospel preached, as 
well as unto them : but the word preached 
did not profit them, not being mixed with 
faith in them that heard it. Isa. lxvi. 2. 
For all those things hath mine hand made, 
and all those things have been, saith the 
Lord : but to this man will I look, even to 
him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, 
and trembleth at my word. 

v Col. iii. 16. Let the word of Christ 
dwell in you richly in all wisdom ; teach- 
ing and admonishing one another inpsalms, 
and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with 
grace in your hearts to the Lord. Eph. v. 
19. Speaking to yourselves inpsalms, and 
hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and 
making melody in your heart to the Lord. 
James v. 13. Is any among you afflicted ? 
let him pray. Is any merry ? let him sing 



w Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost. [1 Cor. xi. 23. to verse 29.] Acts 



ii. 42. And they continued steadfastly in 
the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and 
in breaking of bread, and in prayers, 

s Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord 
thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear 
by his name. With Neh. x. 29. They 
clave to their brethren, their nobles, and 
entered into a curse, and into an oath, to 
walk in God's law, which was given by 
Moses the servant of God, and to observe 
and do all the commandments of the Lord 
our God, and his judgments and his sta- 
tutes. 

y Isa. xix. 21. And the Lord shall be 
known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall 
know the Lord in that day, and shall do 
sacrifice and oblation ; yea, they shall vow 
a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. With 
Eccl. v. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto 
God, defer not to pay it ; for he hath no 
pleasure in fools : pay that which thou hast 
vowed. Ver. 5. Better is it that thou 
shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest 
vow and not pay. 

z Joel ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith 
the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all 
your heart, and with fasting, and with weep- 
ing, and with mourning. Esth. iv. 16. Go, 
gather together all the Jews that are pre- 
sent in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and 
neither eat nor drink three days, night or 
day : I also and my maidens will fast like- 
wise; and so will I go in unto the king, 
which is not according to the law ; and if 
I perish, I perish. Matt. ix. 15. And 
Jesus said unto them, Can the children 
of the bride-chamber mourn, as long as the 
bridegroom is with them ? but the days 
will come, when the bridegroom shall be 
taken from them, and then shall they fast. 
1 Cor. vii. 5. Defraud ye not one the 
other, except it be with consent for a time, 
that ye may give yourselves to fasting and 
prayer; and come together again, thai 
Satan tempt you not for your inconti- 
nency. 

a [Ps. cvii. throughout.] Esth. ix. 22. 
As the days wherein the Jews rested from 



94 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXI. 



•which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in a 
holy and religious manner? 

VI. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious wor- 
ship, is, now under the gospel, either tied unto, or made 
more acceptable by, any place in which it is performed, or • 
towards which it is directed ; c but God is to be worshipped 
every where d in spirit and in truth ; e as in private families f 
daily/ and in secret each one by himself ; h so more solemnly 
in the publick assemblies, which are not carelessly or wilfully 
to be neglected or forsaken, when God, by his word or pro- 
vidence, calleth thereunto. 1 



their enemies, and the month which was 
turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and 
from mourning into a good day ; that they 
should make them days of feasting and joy, 
and of sending portions one to another, 
and gifts to the poor. 

b Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we receiving 
a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us 
have grace, whereby we may serve God ac- 
ceptably with reverence and godly fear. 

VI. c John iv. 21. Jesus saithunto her, 
Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, 
when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor 
yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 

d Mai. i. 11. For from the rising of the 
sun, even unto the going down of the same, 
my name shall be great among the Gen- 
tiles ; and in every place incense shall be 
offered unto my name, and a pure oifer- 
ing : for my name shall be great among 
the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. 1 
Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore that men pray 
every where, lifting up holy hands, without 
wrath and doubting. 

e John iv. 23. But the hour cometh, and 
now is, when the true worshippers shall 
worship the Father in spirit and in truth : 
for the Father seeketh such to worship 
him. Ver. 24. God is a Spirit : and they 
that worship him must worship him in spirit 
and in truth. 

f Jer. x. 25. Pour out thy fury upon the 
heathen that know thee not, and upon the 
families that call not on thy name : for they 
have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, 
and consumed him, and have made his 
habitation desolate. Deut. vi. 6. And 
these words, which I command thee this 
day, shall be in thine heart ; Ver. 7. And 
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy 
children, and shalt talk of them when thou 
sittest in thine house, and when thou walk- 
est by the way, and when thou liest down, 
and when thou risest up. Job i. 5. And 



it was so, when the days of their feasting 
were gone about, that Job sent and sancti- 
fied them, and rose up early in the morn- 
ing, and offered burnt -offerings according 
to the number of them all : for Job said, 
It may be that my sons have sinned, and 
cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job 
continually. 2 Sam. vi. 18. And as soon 
as David had made an end of offering 
burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, he 
blessed the people in the name of the Lord 
of hosts. Ver. 20. Then David returned 
to bless his household. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Like- 
wise, ye husbands, dwell with them accord- 
ing to knowledge, giving honour unto the 
wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as 
being heirs together of the grace of life; that 
your prayers be not hindered. Acts x. 2. 
A devout man, and one that feared God 
with all his house, which gave much alms 
to the people, and prayed to God alway. 

s Matt. vi. 1 1. Give us this day our daily 
bread. 

h Matt. vi. 6. But thou, when thou 
prayest, enter into thy closet; and when thou 
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father 
which is in secret ; and thy Father, which 
seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 
Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer 
and supplication in the Spirit, and watch- 
ing thereunto with all perseverance and 
supplication for all saints. 

i Isa. lvi. 6. Also the sons of the stran- 
ger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve 
him, and to love the name of the Lord, to 
be his servants, every one that keepeth the 
sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold 
of my covenant ; Ver. 7. Even them will I 
bring to my holy mountain, and make them 
joyful in my house of prayer : their burnt- 
offerings and their sacrifices shall be ac- 
cepted upon mine altar ; for mine house 
shall be called an house of prayer for all 
people. Heb. x. 25. Not forsaking the as- 



CHAP. XXI. RELIGIOUS WORSHIP, AND THE SABBATH-DAY. 95 



VII. As it is of the law of nature, that, in general, a due 
proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God ; so, 
in his word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual command- 
ment, binding all men in all ages, he hath particularly ap- 
pointed one day in seven for a sabbath, to be kept holy unto 
him : k which, from the beginning of the world to the resur- 
rection of Christ, was the last day of the week ; and, from 
the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of 
the week, 1 which in Scripture is called the Lord's Day, m and 
is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian 
Sabbath. 11 

VIII. This sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, 
when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and order- 
ing of their common affairs before-hand, do not only observe 
an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and 
thoughts about their worldly employments and recreations ;° 



sembling of ourselves together, as the man- 
ner of some is ; but exhorting one another : 
and so much the more, as ye see the day 
approaching. Prov. i. 20. Wisdom crieth 
without; she uttere'h her voice in the streets: 
Ver. 21. She crieth in the chief place of con- 
course, in the openings of the gates : in the 
city she uttereth her words, saying, Ver. 
24. Because I have called, and ye refused ; 
I have stretched out my hand, and no man 
regarded. Prov. viii. 34. Blessed is the 
man that heareth me, watching daily at my 
gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 
Acts xiii. 42. And when the Jews were 
gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles 
besought that these words might be preached 
to them the next sabbath. Luke iv. 16. And 
he came to Nazareth, where he had been 
brought up : and, as his custom was, he 
went into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, 
and stood up for to read. Acts ii. 42. And 
they continued steadfastly in the apostle's 
doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking 
of bread, and in prayers. 

VII. k Exod. xx. 8. Remember the sab- 
bath-day, to keep it holy. Ver f 10. But the 
seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy 
God : in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, 
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man- 
servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy 
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy 
gates : Ver. 11. For in six days the Lord 
made heaven and earth, the sea, and all 
that in them is, and rested the seventh day: 
wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, 
and hallowed it. Isa. lvi. 2. Blessed is the 
man that doeth this, and the son of man 



that layeth hold on it ; that keepeth the 
sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his 
hand from doing any evil. Ver. 4. For 
thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that 
keep my sabbaths, and choose the things 
that please me, and take hold of my cove- 
nant. Ver. 6, 7. [See in letter ».] 

1 Gen. ii. 2. And on the seventh day 
God ended his work which he had made ; 
and he rested on the seventh day from all his 
work which he had made. Ver. 3. And 
God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified 
it; because that in it he had rested from 
all his work which God created and made. 
1 Cor. xvi. 1. Now concerning the collec- 
tion for the saints, as I have given order 
to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 
Ver. 2. Upon the first day of the week let 
every one of you lay by him in store, as 
God hath prospered him, that there be no 
gatherings when I come. Acts xx. 7. 
And upon the first day of the week, when the 
disciples came together to break bread, 
Paul preached unto them, ready to depart 
on the morrow, and continued his speech 
until midnight. 

m Eev. i. 10. I was in the Spirit on the 
Lord's day, and heard behind me a great 
voice, as of a trumpet. 

n Exod. xx. 8, 10. [See letter k .] With 
Matt. v. 17. Think not that 1 am come to 
destroy the law or the prophets : / am not 
come to destroy, but to fulfil. Ver. 18. For 
verily I say unto you, Till heaven and 
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no 
wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

VIII. Exod. xx. 8. [See letter K] 



9G 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXII. 



but also are taken up the whole time in the publick and 
private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of neces- 
sity and mercy . p 



CHAP. XXII. — Of lawful Oaths and Vows. 

I. A LAWFUL oath is a part of religious worship/ where- 
]\_ in, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly 
calleth God to witness what he asserteth or promiseth ; and 
to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he 
sweareth. b 



Exod. xvi. 23. And he said unto them, 
This is that which the Lord hath said, 
To-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath 
unto the Lord ; bake that which ye will hake 
to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and 
that which remaineth over lay up for you, 
to be kept until the morning. Ver. 25. 
And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day 
is a sabbath unto the Lord: to-day ye shall 
not find it in the field. Ver. 26. Six days 
ye shall gather it; but on the seventh 
day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall 
be none. Ver. 29. See, for that the Lord 
hath given you the sabbath, therefore he 
giveth you on the sixth day the bread of 
two days : abide ye every man in his 
place ; let no man go out of his place on the 
seventh day. Ver. 30. So the people rested 
on the seventh day. Exod. xxxi. 15. Six 
days may work be done ; but in the seventh 
is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord : 
whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath-day, 
he shall surely be put to death. Ver. 16. 
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep 
the sabbath, to observe the sabbath through- 
out their generations, for a perpetual 
covenant. Ver. 17. It is a sign between 
me and the children of Israel for ever : 
for in six days the Lord made heaven and 
earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and 
was refreshed. Isa. lviii. 13. If thou turn 
away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing 
thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the 
sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, 
honourable ; and shalt honour him, not 
doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own 
pleasure, nor speaking thine own words. 
Neh. xiii. 1 5. In those days saw I in Ju- 
dah some treading wine-presses on the 
sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and 
lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and 
figs, and all manner of burdens, which 



they brought into Jerusalem on the sab- 
bath-day : and 1 testified against them in 
the day v)herein they sold victuals. Ver. 16. 
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, 
which brought fish, and all manner of 
ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the 
children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Ver. 
17. Then I contended with the nobles of 
Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing 
is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath- 
day? Ver. 18. Did not your fathers 
thus, and did not our God bring all this 
evil upon us, and upon this city ? yet ye 
bring more wrath upon Israel, by profaning 
the sabbath. Ver. 19. And it came to pass, 
that, when the gates of Jerusalem began 
to be dark before the sabbath, / commanded 
that the gates should be shut, and charged 
that they should not be opened till after the 
sabbath; and some of my servants set I at 
the gates, that there should no burden be 
brought in on the sabbath-day. Ver. 21. 
Then I testified against them, and said 
unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall ? 
if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. 
From that time forth came they no more on 
the sabbath. Ver. 22. And 1 commanded 
the Levites, that they should cleanse them- 
selves, and that they should come and keep 
the gates, to sanctify the sabbath-day. Ke- 
member me, my God, concerning this 
also, and spare me according to the great- 
ness of thy mercy. 

p Isa. lviii. 13. [See in letter °. Matt, 
xii. 1. to the 13th Verse.] 

I. a Deut. x. 20. Thou shalt fear the 
Lord thy God ; him shalt thou serve, and 
to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his 

name. 

b Exod. xx. 7. Thou shalt not take the 
name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the 



CHAP. XXII. 



LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS. 



07 



II. The name of God only is that by which men ought to 
swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and 
reverence ; c therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glo- 
rious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, 
is sinful, and to be abhorred. d Yet as, in matters of weight 
and moment, an oath is warranted by the word of God un- 
der the ]STew Testament, as well as under the Old ; e so a law- 
ful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, 
ought to be taken. 1 

III. Whosoever taketh an oath, ought duly to consider 
the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch 
nothing but what he is fully persuaded is the truth. s Neither 
may any man bind himself by oath to any thing but what is 
good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he 
is able and resolved to perform. h Yet it is a sin to refuse 



Lord will not hold him guiltless that tak- 
eth his name in vain. Lev. xix. 12. And 
ye shall not sivear by my name falsely, 
neither shalt thou profane the name of thy 
God: I am the Lord. 2 Cor. i. 23. 
Moreover, I call God for a record upon my 
soul, that to spare you I came not as yet 
unto Corinth. 2 Chron. vi. 22. If a man 
sin against his neighbour, and an oath be 
laid upon him to make him swear, and the 
oath come before thine altar in this house : 
Ver. 23. Then hear thou from heaven, 
and do, and judge thy servants, by requit- 
ing the wicked, by recompensing his way 
upon his own head ; and by justifying the 
righteous, by giving him aceording to his 
righteousness. 

H. c Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the 
Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt 
swear by his name. 

d Exod. xx. 7. [See letter *>.] Jer. v. 7. 
How shall I pardon thee for this ? thy 
children have forsaken me, and sworn by 
them that are no gods: when I had fed them 
to the full, they then committed adultery, 
and assembled themselves by troops in the 
harlots' houses. Matt. v. 34. But I say 
unto you, Swear not at all : neither by hea- 
ven; for it is God's throne. Ver. 37. But 
let your communication be, Yea, yea ; 
Nay, nay : for whatsoever is more than these 
Cometh of evil. James v. 12. But above 
all things, my brethren, swear not; neither 
by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by 
any other oath : but let your yea be yea ; 
and your nay, nay ; lest ye fall into con- 
demnation. 

e Heb. vi. 16. For men verily swear by 



the greater : and an oath for confirmation 
is to them an end of all strife. 2 Cor. i. 23. 
[See letter d ] Isa. lxv. 16. That he who 
olesseth himself in the earth, shall bless 
himself in the God of truth ; and he that 
sweareth in the earth, shall swear by the God 
of truth; because the former troubles are 
forgotten, and because they are hid from 
mine eyes. 

f 1 Kings viii. 31. If any man trespass 
against his neighbour, and an oath be laid 
upon him to cause him to swear, and the 
oath come before thine altar in this house. 
Neh. xiii. 25. And I contended with them, 
and cursed them, and smote certain of 
them, and plucked off their hair, and made 
them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not 
give your daughters unto their sons, nor 
take their daughters unto your sons, or 
for yourselves. Ezra x. 5. Then arose 
Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, 
and all Israel, to swear that they should do 
according to this word : and they sware. 

III. s Exod. xx. 7. [See letter a.] Jer. 
iv. 2. And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, 
in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; 
and the nations shall bless themselves in 
him, and in him shall they glory. 

Gen. xxiv. 2. And Abraham said unto 
his eldest servant of his house, that ruled 
over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy 
hand under my thigh ; Ver. 3. And I will 
make thee swear by the Lord, the God of 
heaven, and the God of the earth, that 
thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of 
the daughters of the Canaanites, among 
whom I dwell. Ver. 5. And the servant 
said unto him, Peradventure the woman 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXIT. 



an oath touching any thing that is good and just, being im- 
posed by lawful authority. 1 

IV. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense 
of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation. 1 " 
It cannot oblige to sin ; but in any thing not sinful, being 

taken, it binds to performance, although to a man's own hurt; 1 
nor is it to be violated, although made to hereticks or in- 
fidels. 111 

will not be willing to follow me unto this the Lord be between them both, that he hath 
land : must I needs bring thy son again not put his hand unto his neighbour's 
unto the land from whence thou earnest ? goods ; and the owner of it shall accept 
Ver. 6. And Abraham said unto him, thereof, and he shall not make it good. 
Beware thou that thou bring not my son IV. * Jer. iv. 2. [See letter g.] Ps. xxiv. 
thither again. Ver. 8. And if the woman 4. He that hath clean hands, and a pure 
will not be willing to follow thee, then heart ; who hath not lifted up his soul 
thou shalt be clear from this my oath : unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 
only bring not my son thither again. Ver. 1 1 Sam. xxv. 22. So and more also do 
9. And the servant put his hand under the God unto the enemies of David, if I leave 
thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to of all that pertain to him, by the morning- 
Am concerning that matter. light, any that pisseth against the wall s 
i Numb. v. 19. And the priest shall Ver. 32. And David said to Abigail, 
charge her by an oath, and say unto the Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which 
woman, If no man have lain with thee, and sent thee this day to meet me : Ver. 33. 
if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be 
with another instead of thy husband, be thou, which has kept me this day from 
thou free from this bitter water that coming to shed blood, and from avenging 
causeth the curse. Ver. 21. Then the myself with mine own hand. Ver. 34. 
priest shall charge the ivoman with an oath of For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel 
cursing; and the priest shall say unto the liveth, which hath kept me back from 
woman, The Lord make thee a curse and hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and 
an oath among thy people, when the Lord come to meet me, surely there had not been 
doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly left unto Nabal, by the morning- light, any 
to swell. Neh. v. 12. Then said they, We that pisseth against the wall. Ps. xv. 4. 
will restore them, and will require nothing In whose eyes a vile person is contemned ; 
of them ; so will we do as thou sayest. but he honoureth them that fear the Lord : 
Then I called the priests, and took an oath he that sweareth to his own hurt, and chang- 
of them, that they should do according to eth not. 

this promise. Exod. xxii. 7. If a man m Ezek. xvii. 16. As I live, saith the 

shall deliver unto his neighbour money or Lord God, surely in the place where the 

stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the king dwelleth that made him king, whose 

man's house; if the thief be found, let him oath he despised, and whose covenant he 

pay double. Ver. 8. If the thief be not brake, even with him in the midst of 

found, then the master of the house shall Babylon he shall die. Ver. 18. Seeing he 

be brought unto the judges, to see whether despised the oath by breaking the covenant, 

he have put his hand unto his neighbour's when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath 

goods. Ver. 9. For all manner of tres- done all these things, he shall not escape, 

pass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for Ver. 19. Therefore thus saith the Lord 

sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of God, As I live, surely mine oath that he hath 

lost thing, which another challengeth to despised, and my covenant that he hath 

be his, the cause of both parties shall come broken, even it will I recompense upon his 

before the judges ; and whom the judges own head. Josh. ix. 18. And the children 

shall condemn, he shall pay double unto of Israel smote them not, because the 

his neighbour. Ver. 10. If a man de- princes of the congregation had sworn 

liver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, unto them by the Lord God of Israel, 

or a sheep, or any beast, to keep, and it And all the congregation murmured 

die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man against the princes. Ver. 19. But all the 

seeing it : Ver. 11. Then shall an oath of princes said unto all the congregation, 



CHAP. XXII. 



LAWFUL OATHS AND VOWS. 



G9 



V. A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, 
and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be 
performed with the like faithfulness. 11 

VI. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: 
and that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out 
of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for 
mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want ; 
whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties, 
or to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly con- 
duce thereunto. p 



We have sworn unto tliem by the Lord God 
of Israel : now therefore we may not touch 
them. With 2 Sam. xxi. 1. Then there was 
a famine in the days of David three years, 
year after year ; and David enquired of 
the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is 
for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he 
slew the Gibeonites, 

V. n Isa. xix. 21. And the Lord shall 
be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians 
shall know the Lord in that day, and shall 
do sacrifice and oblation ; yea, they shall 
vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. 
Eccl. v. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto 
God, defer not to pay it ; for he hath no 
pleasure in fools : pay that which thou hast 
vowed. Ver. 5. Better is it that thou 
shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest 
vow and not pay. Ver. 6. Suffer not thy 
mouth to cause thy flesh to sin ; neither 
say thou before the angel, that it was an 
error : wherefore should God be angry at 
thy voice, and destroy the work of thine 
hands ? Ps. lxi. 8. So will I sing praise 
unto thy name for ever, that I may daily 
perform my vows. Ps. lxvi. 13. I will go 
into thy house withburnt-offerings ; I will 
pay thee my vows, Ver. 14. Which my 
lips have uttered, and my mouth hath 
spoken, when I was in trouble. 

VI. Ps. lxxvi. 11. Vow, and pay unto 
the Lord your God : let all that be round 
about him bring presents unto him that 
ought to be feared. Jer. xliv. 25. Thus 
saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 
saying, Ye and your wives have both 
spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled 
with your hand, saying, We will surely 
perform our vows that we have vowed, to 
burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to 
pour out drink-offerings unto her : ye will 
surely accomplish your vows, and surely 
perform your vows. Ver. 26. Therefore 
hear ye the word of the Lord, all Judah 
that dwell in the land of Egypt ; Behold, 



I have sworn by my great name, saith the 
Lord, that my name shall no more be 
named in the mouth of any man of Judah 
in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord 
God liveth. 

p Deut. xxiii. 21. When thou shalt vow 
a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt 
not slack to pay it : for the Lord thy God 
will surely require it of thee ; and it 
would be sin in thee. Ver. 22. But if 
thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no 
sin in thee. Ver. 23. That which is gone 
out of thy lips thou shalt keep and per- 
form; even a freewill-offering, according 
as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, 
which thou hast promised with thy mouth. 
Ps. 1. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving; and 
pay thy vows unto the Most High. Gen. 
xxviii. 20. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, 
If God will be with me, and will keep me 
in this way that I go, and will give me 
bread to eat, and raiment to put on, Ver. 
21. So that I come again to my father's 
house in peace, then shall the Lord be my 
God: Ver. 22. And this stone, which I 
have set for a pillar, shall be God's house : 
and of all that thou shalt give me, / will 
surely give the tenth unto thee. 1 Sam. i. 11. 
And she vowed a vow, and said, Lord of 
hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the afflic- 
tion of thine handmaid, and remember 
me, and not forget thine handmaid, but 
wilt give unto thine handmaid a man- 
child, then I will give him unto the Lord all 
the days of his life, and there shall no razor 
come upon his head. Ps. lxvi. 13, 14. 
[See letter n .] Ps. cxxxii. 2. How he 
sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the 
mighty God of Jacob; Ver. 3. Surely I 
will not come into the tabernacle of my house, 
nor go up into my bed; Ver. 4. / will not 
give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine 
eyelids, Ver. 5. Until I find out a place 
for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty 
God of Jacob. 



100 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXIII. 



VII. No man may vow to do any thing forbidden in the 
word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein com- 
manded, or which is not in his power, and for the perform- 
ance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God. q 
In which respects, Popish monastical vows of perpetual 
single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so 
far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are 
superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may 
entangle himself/ 



CHAP. XXIII.— Of the Civil Magistrate. 



I. f^i OD, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, 
Vjr hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him 
over the people, for his own glory, and the publick good ; 
and, to this end, hath armed them with the power of the 
sword, for the defence and encouragement of them that are 
good, and for the punishment of evil-doers. a 



VII. q Acts xxiii. 12. And when it was 
day, certain of the Jews banded together, 
and bound themselves under a curse, saying 
that they would neither eat nor drink till 
they had killed Paul. Ver. 14. And they 
came to the chief priests and elders, and 
said, We have bound ourselves under a great 
curse, that we will eat nothing until we have 
slain Paul. Mark vi. 26. And the king 
was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's 
sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, 
he would not reject her. Numb. xxx. 5. 
But if her father disallow her in the day 
that he heareth ; not any of her vows, or 
of her bonds wherewith she hath bound 
her soul, shall stand ; and the Lord shall 
forgive her, because her father disallowed 
her. Ver. 8. But if her husband disal- 
lowed her on the day that he heard it ; 
then he shall make her vow which she 
vowed, and that which she uttered with 
her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of 
none effect ; and the Lord shall forgive 
her. Ver. 12. But if her husband hath 
utterly made them void on the day he heard 
them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her 
lips concerning her vows, or concerning the 
bond of her soul, shall not stand: her hus- 
band hath made them void; and the Lord 
shall forgive her. Ver. 13. Every vow, 



and every binding oath to afflict the soul, 
her husband may establish it, or her hus- 
band may make it void. 

r Matt. xix. 11. But he said unto them, 
All men cannot receive this saying, save they 
to whom it is given. Ver. 1 2. For there 
are some eunuchs, which were so born 
from their mother's womb ; and there are 
some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs 
of men ; and there be eunuchs which have 
made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom 
of heaven's sake. He that is able to re- 
ceive it, let him receive it. 1 Cor. vii. 2. 
Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let 
every man have his own wife, and let every 
woman have her own husband. Ver. 9. But 
if they cannot contain, let them marry : for 
it is better to marry than to burn. Eph. 
iv. 28. Let him that stole steal no more : 
but rather let him labour, working with his 
hands the thing which is good, that he may 
have to give to him that needeth. 1 Pet. 
iv. 2. That he no longer should live the 
rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of 
men, but to the will of God. 1 Cor. vii. 23. 
Ye are bought with a price : be not ye the 
servants of men. 

I. a Kom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be sub- 
ject unto the higher powers. For there is no 



CHAP. XXIII. 



THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE. 



101 



II. It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the 
office of a magistrate, when called thereunto : b in the ma- 
naging whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, 
justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each 
commonwealth; so, for that end, they may lawfully, now 
under the New Testament, wage war upon just and neces- 
sary occasions.* 1 

III. The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the 
administration of the word and sacraments, or the power of 
the keys of the kingdom of heaven : e yet he hath authority, 

power but of God: the powers that be are demanded of him, saying, And what shall 

ordained of God. Ver. 2. Whosoever there- we do ? And he said unto them, Do vio- 

fore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance lence to no man, neither accuse any falsely ; 

of God; and they that resist shall receive and be content with your wages. Rom. 

to themselves damnation. Ver. 3. For xiii. 4. [See letter a .] Matt. viii. 9. For 

rulers are not a terror to good works, but to I am a man under authority, having sol- 

the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of diers under me : and I say to this man, 

the power ? Do that which is good, and Go, and he goeth ; and to another, Come, 

thou shalt have praise of the same : Ver. and he cometh ; and to my servant, Do 

4. For he is the minister of God to thee for this, and he doeth it. Ver. 10. When 

good. But if thou do that which is evil, be Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to 

afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: them that followed, Verily I say unto you, 

for he is the minister of God, a revenger to I have not found so great faith, no, not in 

execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 1 Israel. Acts x. 1. There was a certain 

Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every man in Cesarea called Cornelius, a centurion 

ordinance of man for the Lord's sake : of the band called the Italian band, Ver. 

whether it be to the king, as supreme ; 2. A devout man, and one that feared God 

Ver. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them with all his house, which gave much alms 

that are sent by him for the punishment of to the people, and prayed to God alway. 

evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do Rev. xvii. 14. These shall make war with 

well. the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome 

II. bProv. viii. 15. By me kings reign, them: for he is Lord of lords, and King 

and princes decree justice. Ver. 16. By me of kings ; and they that are with him are 

princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges called, and chosen, and faithful. Ver. 16. 

of the earth. Rom. xiii. 1, 2, 4. [See in And the ten horns which thou sawest upon 

letter a .] the beast, these shall hate the whore, and 

Ps. ii. 10. Be wise now therefore, ye shall make her desolate and naked, and shall 

kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 

Ver. 11. Serve the Lord with fear, and re- III. e 2 Chron. xxvi. 18. And they 

joice with trembling. Ver. 12. Kiss the withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto 

Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from him, It appertained not unto thee, Uzziah, 

the way, when his wrath is kindled but a to burn incense unto the Lord, but to the 

little. Blessed are all they that put their priests, the sons of Aaron, that are conse- 

trust in him. 1 Tim. ii. 2. For kings, crated to burn incense : go out of the sanc- 

and for all that are in authority ; that we iuary ; for thou hast trespassed: neither 

may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all shall it be for thine honour from the Lord 

godliness and honesty. Ps. lxxxii. 3. Be- God. With Matt, xviii. 17. And if he 

fend the poor and fatherless; do justice to shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the 

the afflicted and needy. Ver. 4. Deliver church : but if he neglect to hear the church, 

the poor and needy: rid them out of the let him be unto thee as an heathen man 

hand of the wicked. 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. and a publican. And Matt. xvi. 19. And 

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom 

spake to me, He that ruleth over men must of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind 

be just, ruling in the fear of God. 1 Pet. on earth shall be bound in heaven ; and 

ii. 13. [See in letter a .] whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall 

d Luke iii. 14. And the soldiers likewise be loosed in heaven. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And 



102 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXIII. 



and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be 
preserved in the church, that the truth of God be kept pure 
and entire, that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed, 
all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline pre- 
vented or reformed, and all the ordinances of God duly 
settled, administered, and observed/ For the better effect- 
ing whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at 

God hath set some in the church, first, apos- beautify the house of the Lord, which is in 

ties; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, teachers ; J erusalem ; Ver. 28. And hath extended 

after that miracles ; then gifts of healings mercy unto me before the king and his 

helps, governments, diversities of tongues, counsellors, and before all the king's 

Ver. '29. Are all apostles? are all pro- mighty princes: and I was strengthened 

phets ? are all teachers ? are all workers of as the hand of the Lord my God was upon 

miracles? Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, me; and I gathered together out of Israel 

apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, chief men to go up with me. Lev. xxiv. 

evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers', 16. And he that blasphemeth the name of 

Ver & 12. For the perfecting of the saints, the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and 

for the work of the ministry, for the edi- all the congregation shall certainly stone 

fying of the body of Christ. 1 Cor. iv. 1. him : as well the stranger, as he that is 

Let a man so account of us as of the mini- born in the land, when he blasphemeth the 

sters of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries name of the Lord, shall be put to death. 

of God. Ver. 2. Moreover, it is required Deut. xiii. 5. And that prophet, or that 

in stewards, that a man be found faithful, dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; 

Rom. x. 15. And how shall they preach ex- because he hath spoken to turn you away 

cept they be sent ? as it is written, How from the Lord your God, which brought 

beautiful are the feet of them that preach you out of the land of Egypt, and re- 

the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings deemed you out of the house of bondage, 

of good things ! Heb. v. 4. And no man to thrust thee out of the way which the 

taketh this honour unto himself, but he that Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in : 

is called of God, as was Aaron. so shalt thou put the evil away from the 

f Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy midst of thee. Ver. 6. If thy brother, 

nursing -fathers, and their queens thy nursing- the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy 

mothers: they shall bow down to thee with daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy 

their face toward the earth, and lick up friend, which is as thine own soul, entice 

the dust of thy feet ; and thou shalt know thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve 

that I am the Lord : for they shall not be other gods, which thou has not known, 

ashamed that wait for me. Ps. exxii. 9. thou, nor thy fathers. Ver. 12. If thou 

Because of the house of the Lord our God shalt hear say in one of thy citie3, which 

I will seek thy good. Ezra vii. 23. What- the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell 

soever is commanded by the God of heaven, there, saying, &c. 2 Kings xviii. 4. He 

let it be diligently done for the house of removed the high places, and brake the images, 

the God of heaven : for why should there and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces 

be wrath against the realm of the king the brazen serpent that Moses had made : for 

and his sons ? Ver. 25. And thou, Ezra, unto those days the children of Israel did 

after the wisdom of thy God that is in burn incense to it ; and he called it Ne- 

thine hand, set magistrates and judges, hushtan. [1 Chron. xiii. 1. to the 9th 

which may judge all the people that are be- verse. 2 Kings xxiv. 1. to the 26th verse.] 

yond the river, all swh as know the laws of 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33. And Josiah took away 

thy God; and teach ye them that know all the abominations out of all the countries 

them not. Ver. 26. And whosoever will that pertained to the children of Israel, 

not efo the. law of thy God, and the law of and made all that were present in Israel to 

the king, let judgment be executed speedily serve, even to serve the Lord their God. And 

upon him, whether it be unto death, or to ba- all his days they departed not from fol- 

nishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to lowing the Lord, the God of their fathers. 

imprisonment. Ver. 27. Blessed be the 2 Chron. xv. 12. And they entered into a 

Lord God of our fathers, which hath put covenant to seek the Lord God of their 

such a thing as this in the king's heart, to fathers with all their heart, and with all 



CHAP. XXIII. THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE. 



103 



them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them 

be according to the mind of God. g 

IV. It is the duty of people to pray for magistrates, 11 to 
honour their persons/ to pay them tribute and other dues/ 
to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their 
authority for conscience' sake. 1 Infidelity, or difference in 

religion, doth not make void the magistrate's just and legal 
authority, nor free the people from their due obedience to 
him : m from which ecclesiastical persons are not exempted; 11 

their soul; Ver. 13. That whosoever Ver. 7. Render therefore to all their dues : 

would not seek the Lord God of Israel tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to 

should be put to death, whether small or whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to 

great, whether man or woman. whom honour. 

s 2 Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Jerusa- 1 Kom. xiii. 5. Wherefore ye must needs 

lem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and be subject, not only for wrath, but also for 

of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers conscience' sake. Tit. iii. 1. Put them in 

of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and mind to be subject to principalities and pow- 

for controversies, when they returned to ers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every 

Jerusalem. Ver. 9. And he charged them, good work. 

saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the m 1 Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every 

Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart, ordinance of man for the Lord's sake : 

Ver. 10. And what cause soever shall whether it be to the king, as supreme; 

come to you of your brethren that dwell Ver. 14. Or unto governors, as unto them 

in their cities, between blood and blood, that are sent by him for the punishment 

between law and commandment, statutes of evil-doers, and for the praise of them 

and judgments, ye shall even warn them that do well. Ver. 16. As free, and not 

that they trespass not against the Lord, using your liberty for a cloak of malicious- 

and so wrath come upon you, and upon ness, but as the servants of God. 

your brethren : this do, and ye shall not n Rom. xiii. 1. Let every soul be subject 

trespass. Ver. 11. And behold, Amariah unto the higher powers. For there is no 

the chief priest is over you in all matters power but of God : the powers that be are 

of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of ordained of God. 1 Kings ii. 35. And the 

Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in 

for all the king's matters : also the Levites his room over the host ; and Zadok the 

shall be officers before you. Deal courage- priest did the king put in the room of Abi- 

ously, and the Lord shall be with the good, athar. Acts xxv. 9. But Festus, willing 

[2 Chron. chapters xxix. and xxx.] Matt, to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, 

ii. 4. And when he had gathered all the chief and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, 

priests and scribes of the people together, he and there be judged of these things before 

demanded of them where Christ should be me ? Ver. 10. Then said Paul, I stand 

born. Ver. 5. And they said unto him, at Cesar's judgment-seat, where I ought to 

In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is be judged: to the Jews have I done no 

written by the prophet. wrong, as thou very well knowest. Ver. 

IV. h l Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, 11. For if I be an offender, or have commit- 

that, first of all, supplications, prayers, in- ted any thing worthy of death, I refuse not 

ter cessions, and giving of thanks, be made for to die: but if there be none of these things 

all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all whereof these accuse me, no man may de- 

that are in authority : that we may lead a liver me unto them. / appeal unto Cesar. 

quiet and peaceable life in all godliness 2 Pet. ii. 1. But there were false prophets 

and honesty. also among the people, even as there shall 

i l Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. Love be false teachers among you, who privily 

the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the shall bring in damnable heresies, even de- 

king. nying the Lord that bought them, and 

k Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this cause pay bring upon themselves swift destruction. 

ye tribute also : for they are God's ministers, Ver. 10. But chiefly them that walk after 

attending continually upon this very thing, the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and 



I04 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXHT 

much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them 
in their dominions, or over any of their people ; and least of 
all to deprive them of their dominions or lives, if he shall 
judge them to be hereticks, or upon any other pretence 
whatsoever. 



CHAP. XXIV. — Of Marriage and Divorce. 



I. "1 If ARRIAGE is to be between one man and one woman : 
1VJL neither is it lawful for any man to have more than 
one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband, 
at the same time. a 

II. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband 
and wife ; b for the increase of mankind with a legitimate 
issue, and of the church with an holy seed ; c and for pre- 
venting of uncleanness. d 

III. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are 



despise government: presumptuous are 
they, self-willed, they are not afraid to 
speak evil of dignities: Ver. 11. Whereas 
angels, which are greater in power and 
might, bring not railing accusation against 
them before the Lord. Jude, ver. 8. Like- 
wise also these filthy dreamers defile the 
flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of 
dignities. Ver. 9. Yet Michael the arch- 
angel, when contending with the devil, he 
disputed about the body of Moses, durst 
not bring against him a railing accusation, 
but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Ver. 10. 
But these speak evil of those things which 
they know not: but what they know 
naturally, as brute beasts, in those things 
they corrupt themselves. Ver. 11. Woe 
unto them ! for they have gone in the way 
of Cain, and ran greedily after the error 
of Balaam for reward, and perished in the 
gainsaying of Core. 

° 2 Thess. ii. 4. Who opposeth and exalt- 
eth himself above all that is called God, or 
that is worshipped ; so that he, as God, 
sitteth in the temple of God, shewing him- 
self that he is God. Rev. xiii. 15. And 
he had power to give life unto the image 
of the beast, that the image of the beast 
should both speak, and cause that as many 
as would not worship the image of the beast 
should be killed. Ver. 16. And he caused 



all, both small and great, rich and poor, free 
and bond, to receive a mark in their right 
hand, or in their foreheads : Ver. 17. And 
that no man might buy or sell, save he that 
had the mark, or the name of the beast, or 
the number of his name. 

I. a Gen. ii. 24. Therefore shall a man 
leave his father and his mother, and shall 
cleave unto his wife ; and they shall be one 
flesh. Matt. xix. 5. And said, For this 
cause shall a man leave father and mother, 
and shall cleave to his wife and they twain 
shall be one flesh. Ver. 6. Wherefore they 
are no more twain, but one flesh. What 
therefore God hath joined together, let 
not man put asunder. Prov. ii. 17. 
Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and 
forgetteth the covenant of her God. 

II. b Gen. ii. 18. And the Lord God 
said, It is not good that the man should 
be alone ; I will make him an help meet for 
him. 

c Mai. ii. 15. And did not he make one ? 
Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And 
wherefore one ? That he might seek a godly 
seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, 
and let none deal treacherously against the 
wife of his youth. 

d l Cor. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid for- 
nication, let every man have his own wife, 



CHAP. XXIV. MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE. 



105 



able with judgment to give their consent : e yet it is the duty 
of Christians to marry only in the Lord/ And therefore 
such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry 
with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters: neither should such 
as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as 
are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable 
heresies. 6 

IV. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of con- 
sanguinity or affinity forbidden in the word ; h nor can such 
incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, 
or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together 



and let every woman have her own husband. 
Ver. 9. But if they cannot contain, let them 
marry : for it is better to marry than to 
burn. 

III. e Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is honour- 
able in all, and the bed undented : but 
whoremongers and adulterers God will 
judge. 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding to marry, 
and commanding to abstain from meats, 
which God hath created to be received 
with thanksgiving of them which believe 
and know the truth. 1 Cor. vii. 36. But 
if any man think that he behaveth him- 
self uncomely toward his virgin, if she 
pass the flower of her age, and need so re- 
quire, let him do what he will, he sinneth 
not ; let them marry. Ver. 37 . Neverthe- 
less he that standeth steadfast in his 
heart, having no necessity, but hath power 
over his own will, and hath so decreed in 
his heart that he will keep his virgin, 
doeth well. Ver. 38. So then he that giv- 
eth her in marriage doeth well; but he that 
giveth her not in marriage, doeth better. 
Gen. xxiv. 57. And they said, We will 
call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. 
Ver. 58. And they called Rebekah, and 
said unto her, Wilt thou go with this 
man? And she said, I will go. 

f 1 Cor. vii. 39. The wife is bound by 
the law as long as her husband liveth ; 
but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty 
to be married to whom she will ; only in 
the Lord. 

e Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they said unto 
them, We cannot do this thing, to give our 
sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that 
were a reproach unto us. Exod. xxxiv. 16. 
And thou take of their daughters unto thy 
sons, and their daughters go a whoring 
after their gods, and make thy sons go a 
whoring after their gods. Deut. vii. 3. 
Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; 
thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, 



nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy 
son. Ver. 4. For they will turn away thy 
son from following me, that they may serve 
other gods; so will the anger of the Lord 
be kindled against you, and destroy thee 
suddenly. 1 Kings xi. 4. For it came to 
pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives 
turned away his heart after other gods : and 
his heart was not perfect with the Lord 
his God, as was the heart of David his 
father. Neh. xiii. 25. And I contended 
with them, and cursed them, and smote 
certain of them, and plucked off their hair, 
and made them swear by God, saying, Ye 
shall not give your daughters unto their 
sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, 
or for yourselves. Ver. 26. Did not Solo- 
mon king of Israel sin by these things ? yet 
among many nations was there no king 
like him, who was beloved of his God, and 
God made him king over all Israel : never- 
theless even him did outlandish women cause 
to sin. Ver. 27. Shall we then hearken 
unto you to do all this great evil, to trans- 
gress against our God in marrying strange 
wives? Mai. ii. 11. Judah hath dealt 
treacherously, and an abomination is com- 
mitted in Israel and in Jerusalem : for 
Judah hath profaned the holiness of the 
Lord which he loved, and hath married the 
daughter of a strange god. Ver. 12. The 
Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the 
master and the scholar, out of the taber- 
nacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an 
offering unto the Lord of hosts. 2 Cor. 
vi. 14. Be ye not unequally yoked together 
with unbelievers : for what fellowship hath 
righteousness with unrighteousness ? and 
what communion hath light with dark- 
ness? 

IV. h [Lev. Chapter xviii.] 1 Cor. v. 
1. It is reported commonly that there is 
fornication among you, and such fornica- 
tion as is not so much as named among 



100 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXIV. 



as man and wife. 1 The man may not marry any of his wife's 
kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the 
woman of her husband's kindred nearer in blood than of her 
own. k 

Y. Adultery or fornication committed after a contract, 
being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the 
innocent party to dissolve that contract. 1 In the case of 
adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party 
to sue out a divorce, m and, after the divorce, to marry an- 
other, as if the offending party were dead. n 

YL Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to 
study arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God 
hath joined together in marriage ; yet nothing but adultery, 
or such wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the 
church or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of 



dissolving 



the Gentiles, that one should have his father's 
wife. Amos ii. 7. That pant after the 
dust of the earth on the head of the poor, 
and turn aside the way of the meek : and 
a man and his father will go in unto the 
same maid, to profane my holy name. 

iMark vi. 18. For John had said unto 
Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy 
brother's wife. Lev. xviii. 24. Defile not 
ye yourselves in any of these things : for in 
all these the nations are defiled which I 
cast out before you. Ver. 25. And the 
land is defiled : therefore I do visit the 
iniquity thereof upon it, and the land it- 
self vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ver. 
26. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes 
and my judgments, and shall not commit 
any of these abominations ; neither any of 
your own nation, nor any stranger that 
sojourneth among you ; Ver. 27. (For all 
these abominations have the men of the 
land done which were before you, and the 
land is defiled;) Ver. 28. That the land 
spue not you out also, when ye defile it, 
as it spued out the nations that were be- 
fore you. 

k Lev. xx. 19. And thou shalt not un- 
cover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor 
°f thy father's sister; for he uncovereth his 
near kin : they shall bear their iniquity. 
Ver. 20. And if a man shall lie with his 
uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's 
nakedness: they shall bear their sin; 
they shall die childless. Ver. 21. And if 
a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an 
unclean thing ; he hath uncovered his 
brother's nakedness : they shall be child- 
less. 



V. 1 Matt. i. 18. Now the birth of Jesus 
Christ was on this wise : When as his 
mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, be- 
fore they came together, she was found with 
child of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 19. Then 
Joseph her husband, being a just man, and 
not willing to make her a publick example, 
was minded to put her away privily. Ver. 
20. But while he thought on these things, 
behold, the angel of the Lord appeared 
unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou 
son of David, fear not to take unto thee 
Mary thy wife: for that which is con- 
ceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 

m Matt. v. 31. It hath been said, Who- 
soever shall put away his wife, let him 
give her a writing of divorcement : Veu. 
82. But I say unto you, That whosoever 
shall put away his wife, saving for the cause 
of fornication, causeth her to commit adul- 
tery : and whosoever shall marry her that 
is divorced committeth adultery. 

n Matt. xix. 9. And I say unto you, 
Whosoever shall put away his wife, except 
it be for fornication, and shall marry an- 
other, committeth adultery ; and whoso 
marrieth her which is put away doth 
commit adultery. Eom. vii. 2. For the 
woman which hath an husband is bound 
by the law to her husband so long as he 
liveth: but if the husband be dead, she is 
loosed from the law of her husband. Ver. 3. 
So then if, while her husband liveth, she 
be married to another man, she shall be 
called an adulteress : but if her husband be 
dead, she is free from that law; so that she 
is no adulteress, though she be married to 
another man. 



CHAP. XXV. THE CHURCH. 107 

the bond of marriage : wherein a publick and orderly course 
of proceeding is to be observed, and the persons concerned 
in it not left to their own wills and discretion in their own 
case. p 



CHAR XXV.— Of the Church. 



I. npHB catholick or universal church, which is invisible, 
JL consists of the whole number of the elect that have 
been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the 
head thereof ; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of 
him that filleth all in all. a 

II. The visible church, which is also catholick or universal 
under the gospel, (not confined to one nation, as before 
under the law,) consists of all those throughout the world 
that profess the true religion, b together with their chil- 



VI. Matt. xix. 8. He saitli unto them, 
Moses, because of the hardness of your 
hearts, suffered you to put away your 
wives : but from the beginning it was not so. 
Ver. 9. [See letter 11 .] 1 Cor. vii. 15. 
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. 
A brother or a sister is not under bondage in 
such cases: but God hath called us to 
peace. Matt. xix. 6. Wherefore they are 
no more twain, but one flesh. What there- 
fore God hath joined together, let not man put 
asunder. 

p Deut. xxiv. 1. When a man hath taken 
a wife, and married her, and it come to 
pass that she find no favour in his eyes, 
because he hath found some uncleanness 
in her ; then let him write her a bill of di- 
vorcement, and give it in her hand, and send 
her out of his house. Ver. 2. And when 
she is departed out of his house, she may 
go and be another man's wife. Ver. 3. 
And if the latter husband hate her, and 
write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth 
it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his 
house ; or if the latter husband die, which 
took her to be his wife ; Ver. 4. Her for- 
mer husband, which sent her away, may 
not take her again to be his wife, after 
that she is defiled ; for that is abomi- 
nation before the Lord : and thou shalt 
not cause the land to sin, which the Lord 
thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 



I. a Eph. i. 10. That, in the dispensa- 
tion of the fulness of times, he might 
gather together in one all things in Christ, 
both which are in heaven, and which are 
on earth, even in him. Ver. 22. And 
hath put all things under his feet, and gave 
him to be the head over all things to the 
church, Ver. 23. Which is his body, the 
fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph. 
v. 23. For the husband is the head of the 
wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; 
and he is the saviour of the body. Ver. 
27. That he might present it to himself 
a glorious church, not having spot, or 
wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it 
should be holy, and without blemish. Ver. 
32. This is a great mystery : but I speak 
concerning Christ and the church. Col. i. 
18. And he is the head of the body, the 
church ; who is the beginning, the first- 
born from the dead ; that in all things he 
might have the pre-eminence. 

II. b 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of 
God which is at Corinth, to them that are 
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be 
saints, with all that in every place call upon 
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both 
theirs and ours. 1 Cor. xii. 12. For as 
the body is one, and hath many members, 
and all the members of that one body, being 
many, are one body; so also is Christ. Ver. 
13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized 



108 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXV. 



dren; c and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ/ the 
house and family of Grod, e out of which there is no ordinary 
possibility of salvation/ 

III. Unto this catholick visible church Christ hath given 
the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gather- 
ing and perfecting of the saints in this life, to the end of the 
world ; and doth by his own presence and Spirit, according 
to his promise, make them effectual thereunto. 8 

into one body, whether we be Jews or Gen- to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after 

tiles, whether we be bond or free; and have thee. 

been all made to drink into one Spirit. d Matt. xiii. 47. Again, the kingdom of 

Ps. ii. 8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee heaven is like unto a net, that was cast 

the heathen for thine inheritance, and the into the sea, and gathered of every kind, 

uttermost parts of the earth for thy posses- Isa. ix. 7. Of the increase of his govern- 

sion. Rev. vii. 9. After this I beheld, ment and peace there shall be no end, upon 

and, lo, a great multitude, which no man the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, 

could number, of all nations, and kindreds, to order it, and to establish it with judg- 

and people, and tongues, stood before the ment and with justice from henceforth 

throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of 

white robes, and palms in their hands, hosts will perform this. 

Eom. xv. 9. And that the Gentiles might e Eph. ii. 19. Now therefore ye are no 

glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, more strangers and foreigners, but fellow - 

For this cause I will confess to thee among citizens with the saints, and of the household 

the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. Ver. of God. Eph. iii. 15. Of whom the whole 

1 0. And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gen- family in heaven and earth is named. 

tiles, with his people. Ver. 11. And again, f Acts ii. 47. Praising God, and having 

Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud favour with all the people. And the Lord 

him, all ye people. Ver. 12. And again added to the church daily such as should be 

Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, saved. 

and he that shall rise to reign over the Gen- III. g 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set 
tiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. some in the church, first, apostles; second- 
c 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving arily, prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that 
husband is sanctified by the wife, and the miracles ; then gifts of healings, helps, 
unbelieving wife is sanctified by the hus- governments, diversities of tongue. Eph. 
band : else were your children unclean; but iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles; and 
now are they holy. Acts ii. 39. For the some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and 
promise is unto you, and to your children, some, pastors and teachers; Ver. 12. For 
and to all that are afar off, even as many the perfecting of the saints, for the work of 
as the Lord our God shall call. Ezek. xvi. the ministry, for the edifying of the body of 
20. Moreover, thou hast taken thy sons and Christ: Ver. 13. Till we all come in the 
thy daughters, whom thou hast born unto me, unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of 
and these hast thou sacrificed unto them the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the 
to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. 
a small matter, Ver. 21. That thou hast Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and teach 
slain my children, and delivered them to all nations, baptizing them in the name of 
cause them to pass through the fire for the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
them? Rom. xi. 16. For if the first fruit Holy Ghost; Ver. 20. Teaching them to 
be holy, the lump is also holy; and if the observe all things whatsoever I have corn- 
root be holy, so are the branches. Gen. manded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, 
iii. 15. And I will put enmity between even unto the end of the world. Amen. Isa. 
thee and the woman, and between thy seed lix. 21. As for me, this is my covenant wit' 
and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and tJiem, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is 
thou shalt bruise his heel. Gen. xvii. 7. upon thee, and my words which I have pu 
And I will establish my covenant between in thy mouth, shall not depart out of th 
me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, 
generations, for an everlasting covenant, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's see' 



CHAP. XXV. THE CHURCH. 109 

IV. This catholick church hath been sometimes more, 
sometimes less visible. h And particular churches, which are 
members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the 
doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances 
administered, and publick worship performed more or less 
purely in them. 1 

V. The purest churches under heaven are subject both to 
mixture and error ; k and some have so degenerated as to 
become no churches .of Christ, but synagogues of Satan. 1 
Nevertheless, there shall be always a church on earth to 
worship God according to his will. m 

VI. There is no other head of the church but the Lord 
Jesus Christ : n nor can the Pope of Eome in any sense be 
head thereof ; but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and 



saith the Lord, from henceforth and for 
ever. 

IV. h Kom. xi. 3. Lord, they have killed 
thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; 
and / am left alone, and they seek my life. 
Ver. 4. But what saith the answer of God 
unto him? / have reserved to myself seven 
thousand men, who have not bowed the 
knee to the image of Baal. Eev. xii. 6. 
And the woman fled into the wilderness, 
where she hath a place prepared of God, 
that they should feed her there a thousand 
two hundred and threescore days. Ver. 
14. And to the woman were given two 
wings of a great eagle, that she might fly 
into the wilderness, into her place, where 
she is nourished for a time, and times, and 
half a time, from the face of the serpent. 

i [Rev. Chapters ii. and iii. throughout.] 
1 Cor. v. 6. Your glorying is not good. 
Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the 
whole lump ? Ver. 7. Purge out therefore 
the old leaven, that ye may he a new lump, 
as ye are unleavened. For even Christ 
our passover is sacrificed for us. 

V. k l i Cor. xiii. 12. For now we see 
through a glass, darkly; but then face to 
face : now I know in part ; but then shall 
I know even as also I am known. [Rev. 
Chapters ii. and iii.] Matt. xiii. 24-30. 
Another parable put he forth unto them, 
saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened 
unto a man which sowed good seed in his 
field ; but while men slept, his enemy came 
and sowed tares among the wheat, and went 
his way. But when the blade was sprung 
up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared 
the tares also, &c. Ver. 47. Again, the 
kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that 



was cast into the sea, and gathered of 
every kind. 

1 Rev. xviii. 2. And he cried mightily 
with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the 
great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the 
habitation of devils, and the hold of every 
foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and 
hateful bird. Rom. xi. 18. Boast not 
against the branches : but if thou boast, 
thou bearest not the root, but the root 
thee. Ver. 19. Thou wilt say then, The 
branches were broken off, that I might be 
graffed in. Ver. 20. Well; because of 
unbelief they were broken off, and thou stand- 
est by faith. Be not high-minded, but 
fear : Ver. 21. For if God spared not 
the natural branches, take heed lest he also 
spare not thee. Ver. 22. Behold therefore 
the goodness and severity of God : on 
them which fell, severity; but toward thee, 
goodness, if thou continue in his good- 
ness ; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 

m Matt. xvi. 18. And I say also unto 
thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this 
rock I will build my church; and the gates 
of hell shall not prevail against it. Ps. 
lxxii. 17. His name shall endure for ever: 
his name shall be continued as long as the 
sun; and men shall be blessed in him : 
all nations shall call him blessed. Ps. 
cii. 28. The children of thy servants shall 
continue, and their seed shall be established 
before thee. Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. [See in 
letter e.] 

VI. n Col. i. 18. And he is the head of 
the body, the church; who is the beginning, 
the first-born from the dead ; that in all 
things he might have the pre-eminence. 
Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things under 



CHAP. XXVI. 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



110 



son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against 
Christ, and all that is called God.° 



CHAP. XXVI. — Of Communion of Saints. 



I. k LL saints that are united to Jesus Christ their head 
XX by his Spirit, and by faith, have fellowship with him 
in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory . a 
And being united to one another in love, they have com- 
munion in each other's gifts and graces ; b and are obliged 

his feet, and gave him to be the head over 
all things to the church. 

° Matt, xxiii. 8. But he not ye called 
Rabbi : for one is your Master, even Christ ; 
and all ye are brethren. Ver. 9. And call 
no man your father upon the earth : for one 
is your Father, which is in heaven. Ver. 10. 
Neither be ye called masters : for one is 
your Master, even Christ. 2 Thess. ii. 
3. Let no man deceive you by any means : 
for that day shall not come, except there 
come a falling away first, and that man of 
sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Ver. 4. 
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all 
that is called God, or that is worshipped ; 
so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of 
God, shewing himself that he is Grod. 
Ver. 8. And then shall that Wicked be re- 
vealed, whom the Lord shall consume with 
the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy 
with the brightness of his coming : Ver. 
9. Even him, whose coming is after the 
working of Satan, with all power, and 
signs, and lying wonders. Eev. xiii. 6. 
And he opened his mouth in blasphemy 
against God, to blaspheme his name, and his 
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 



I. * 1 John i. 3. That which we have 
seen and heard declare we unto you, that 
ye also may have fellowship with us : and 
truly our fellowship is with the Father, and 
with his Son Jesus Christ. Eph. iii. 16. 
That he would grant you, according to the 
riches of his glory, to be strengthened 
with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 
Ver. 17. That Christ may dwell in your 
hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and 
grounded in love, Ver. 18. May be able to 
comprehend with all saints what is the 
breadth, and length, and depth, and height ; 



Ver. 19. And to know the love of Christ, 
which passeth knowledge, that ye might 
be filled with all the fulness of God. 
John i. 16. And of his fulness have all we 
received, and grace for grace. Eph. ii. 5. 
Even when we were dead in sins, hath 
quickened us together with Christ; (by grace 
ye are saved ;) Ver. 6. And hath raised us 
up together, and made us sit together in 
heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Phil. iii. 
10. That I may know him, and the power 
of his resurrection, and the fellowship of 
his sufferings, being made conformable unto 
his death. Kom. vi. 5. For if we have been 
planted together in the likeness of his death, 
we shall be also in the likeness of his resur- 
rection: Ver. 6. Knowing this, that our 
old man is crucified with him, that the body 
of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth 
we should not serve sin. 2 Tim. ii. 12. 
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him : if 
we deny him, he also will deny us. 

t> Eph. iv. 1 5. But, speaking the truth 
in love, may grow up into him in all things, 
which is the head, even Christ : Ver. 16. 
From whom the whole body fitly joined to- 
gether and compacted by that which every 
joint supplieth, according to the efiectual 
working in the measure of every part, 
maketh increase of the body, unto the edi- 
fying of itself in love. 1 Cor. xii. 7. But 
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to 
every man to profit withal. 1 Cor. iii. 21. 
Therefore let no man glory in men : for 
all things are yours; Ver. 22. Whether 
Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or 
life, or death, or things present, or things to 
come: all are yours; Ver. 23. And ye are 
Christ's; and Christ is God's. Col. ii. 
19. And not holding the head, from which 
all the body by joints and bands having 



CHAP. XXVI. 



COMMUNION OF SAINTS. 



Ill 



to the performance of such duties, publick and private, as 
do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and 
outward man. 

II. Saints, by profession, are bound to maintain an holy 
fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in per- 
forming such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual 
edification ; d as also in relieving each other in outward things, 
according to their several abilities and necessities. Which 
communion, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended 
unto all those who in every place call upon the name of the 
Lord Jesus. 6 

III. This communion which the saints have with Christ 
doth not make them in any wise partakers of the substance 
of his Godhead, or to be equal with Christ in any respect : 
either of which to affirm is impious and blasphemous/ Nor 



nourishment ministered, and Jcnit together, 
increaseth with the increase of God. 

c 1 Thess. v. 11. Wherefore comfort 
yourselves together, and edify one another, 
even as also ye do. Ver. 14. Now we ex- 
hort you, brethren, warn them that are un- 
ruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the 
weak, be patient toward all men. Born, i. 
11. For I long to see you, that I may im- 
part unto you some spiritual gift, to the end 
ye may be established ; Ver. 12. That is, 
that / may be comforted together with you, 
by the mutual faith both of you and me. 
Ver. 14. I am debtor both to the Greeks and 
to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the 
unwise. 1 John iii. 16. Hereby perceive 
we the love of God, because he laid down 
his life for us : and we ought to lay dawn 
our lives for the brethren. Ver. 17. But 
whoso hath this world's good, and seeih his 
brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels 
of compassion from him, how dwelleth the 
love of God in him ? Ver. 18. My little 
children, let us not love in word, neither 
in tongue ; but in deed, and in truth. 
Gal. vi. 10. As we have therefore opportu- 
nity, let us do good unto all men, especially 
unto them who are of the household of faith. 

II. a Heb. x. 24. And let us consider one 
another, to provoke unto love, and to good 
works: Ver. 25. Not forsaking the assem- 
bling of ourselves together, as the manner of 
some is ; but exhorting one another : and 
so much the more, as ye see the day ap- 
proaching. Acts ii. 42. And they con- 
tinued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine 
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, 
and in prayers. Ver. 46. And they, con- 



tinuing daily with one accord in the temple, 
and breaking bread from house to house, 
did eat their meat with gladness and 
singleness of heart. Isa. ii. 3. And many 
people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us 
go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the 
house of the God of Jacob ; and he will 
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in 
his paths : for out of Zion shall go forth 
the law, and the word of the Lord from 
Jerusalem. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come 
together therefore into one place, this is not 
to eat the Lord's supper. 

e Acts ii. 44. And all that believed were 
together, and had all things common ; Ver. 
45. And sold their possessions and goods, 
and parted them to all men, as every man 
had need. 1 John iii. 17. [See in letter °. 
2 Cor. Chapters viii. and ix.] Acts xi. 

29. Then the disciples, every man accord- 
ing to his ability, determined to send relief 
unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea: Ver. 

30. Which also they did, and sent it to 
the elders by the hands of Barnabas and 
Saul. 

HI. f Col. i. 18. And he is the head of 
the body, the church ; who is the begin- 
ning, the first-born from the dead; that in 
all things he might have the pre-eminence : 
Ver. 19. For it pleased the Father, that 
in him should all fulness dwell. 1 Cor. viii. 
6. But to us there is but one God, the 
Father, of whom are all things, and we in 
him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom 
are all things, and we by him. Isa. xlii. 
8. I am the Lord ; that is my name : and 
my glory will L not give to another, neither 
my praise to graven images. 1 Tim. vi. 



112 THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXVII. 

doth their communion one with another, as saints, take 
away or infringe the title or property which each man hath 
in his goods and possessions.? 



CHAP. XXVII.— Of the Sacraments. 



I. QACKAMENTS are holy signs and seals of the cove- 
O nant of grace/ immediately instituted by God, b to 
represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest 
in him ; c as also to put a visible difference betwen those that 
belong unto the church and the rest of the world ; d and 



15. Which in his times he shall shew, who 
is the blessed and only Potentate, the King 
of kings, and Lord of lords ; Ver. 16. 
Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the 
light which no man can approach unto; 
whom no man hath seen, nor can see : to 
whom be honour and power everlasting. 
Amen. Ps. xlv. 7. Thou lovest righte- 
ousness, and hatest wickedness : therefore 
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the 
oil of gladness above thy fellows. With 
Heb. i. 8. But unto the Son he saith, Thy 
throne, God, is for ever and ever; a 
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of 
thy kingdom. Ver. 9. Thou hast loved 
righteousness, and hated iniquity ; there- 
fore God, even thy God, hath anointed 
thee withthe oil of gladness above thy fellows. 

s Exod. xx. 15. Thou shalt not steal. 
Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole steal no 
more : but rather let him labour, working 
with his hands the thing which is good, that 
he may have to give to him that needeth. 
Acts v. 4. Whiles it remained, was it not 
thine own ? and after it was sold, was it 
not in thine own power? why hast thou 
conceived this thing in thine heart? thou 
hast not lied unto men, but God. 

I. a Horn. iv. 11. And he received the 
sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteous- 
ness of the faith which he had yet being 
uncircumcised : that he might be the 
father of all them that believe, though 
they be not circumcised ; that righteous- 
ness might be imputed unto them also. Gen. 
xvii. 7. And / will establish my covenant 
between me and thee, and thy seed after 
thee, in their generations, for an everlast- 



ing covenant, to be a God unto thee, and 
to thy seed after thee. Ver. 10. [See be- 
low in letter f .] 

b Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have 
received of the Lord that which also I de- • 
livered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the 
same night in which he was betrayed, took 
bread. 

c 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not the communion of the blood 
of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it 
not the communion of the body of Christ ? 
1 Cor. xi. 25. After the same manner also 
he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, 
This cup is the new testament in my 
blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, 
in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as 
often as ye eat this bread, and drink this 
cup, ye do sheiv the Lord's death till he come. 
*Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have 
been baptized into Christ have put on 
Christ. Gal. iii. 17. And this I say, that 
the covenant, that was confirmed before of 
God in Christ, the law, which was four 
hundred and thirty years after, cannot 
disannul, that it should make the promise 
of none effect. 

a Eom. xv. 8. Now I say, that Jesus 
Christ was a minister of the circumcision for 
the truth of God, to confirm the promises 
made unto the fathers. Exod. xii. 48. 
And when a stranger shall sojourn with 
thee, and will keep the passover to the 
Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and 
then let him come near and keep it ; and 
he shall be as one that is born in the land: 



CHAP. XXVII. 



THE SACRAMENTS. 



113 



solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, 
according to his word. 6 

II. There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation, or 
sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signi- 
fied ; whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of 
the one are attributed to the other/ 

III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, 
rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them ; neither 
doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or 
intention of him that doth administer it, g but upon the work 
of the Spirit, 11 and the word of institution ; which contains, 
together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a pro- 
mise of benefit to worthy receivers. 1 

IV. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our 
Lord in the gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper 
of the Lord ; neither of which may be dispensed by any but 
by a minister of the word, lawfully ordained. k 



for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 
Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they said unto them, 
We cannot do this thing, to give our sister 
to one that is uncircumcised; for that were 
a reproach unto us. 

e Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many 
of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were 
baptized into his death 9 Ver. 4. There- 
fore we are buried with him by baptism 
into death ; that like as Christ was raised 
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, 
even so we also should walk in newness of 
life. 1 Cor. x. 16. [See in letter c .] Ver. 
21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, 
and the cup of devils : ye cannot be par- 
takers of the Lord's table, and of the table of 
devils. 

II. f Gen. xvii. 10. This is my covenant, 
which ye shall keep, between me and you, 
and thy seed after thee ; Every man-child 
among you shall be circumcised. Matt, 
xxvi. 27. And he took the cup, and gave 
thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink 
ye all of it : Ver. 28. For this is my blood 
of the new testament, which is shed for 
many for the remission of sins. Tit. iii. 
5. Not by works of righteousness which 
we have done, but according to his mercy 
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, 
and renewing of the Holy Ghost. 

III. s Rom. ii. 28. For he is not a Jew 
which is one outwardly; neither is that cir- 
cumcision which is outward in the flesh : 
Ver. 29. But he is a Jew which is one in- 
wardly : and circumcision is that of the 



heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter ; 
whose praise is not of men, but of God. 1 
Pet. iii. 21. The like figure whereunto 
even baptism doth also now save us, (not the 
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but 
the answer of a good conscience toward God,) 
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

& Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you 
with water unto repentance ; but he that 
cometh after me is mightier than I, whose 
shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall 
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with 
fire. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are 
we all baptized into one body, whether we 
be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond 
or free ; and have been all made to drink into 
one Spirit. 

i Matt. xxvi. 27, 28. [See in letter f.] 
Matt, xxviii. 19. [See in letter b .] Ver. 
20. Teaching them to observe all things 
whatsoever I have commanded you : and, lo, 
I am with you alway, even unto the end of 
the world. Amen. 

IV. k Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Itoly Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 
20. When ye come together therefore 
into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's 
supper. Ver. 23. For 1 have received of 
the Lord that which also I delivered unto 
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night 
in which he was betrayed, took bread. 1 
Cor. iv. 1. Let a man so account of us as of 
the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the 



CHAP. XXVIII. 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



114 



Y. The sacraments of the Old Testament, # in regard of 
the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for 
substance, the same with those of the New. 1 



CHAP. XXVIII.— Of Baptism. 



I, jy APTISM is a sacrament of the New Testament, or- 
_D dained by Jesus Christ/ not only for the solemn 
admission of the party baptized into the visible church, b but 
also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, 
of his ingrafting into Christ/ of regeneration, 6 of remission 
of sins/ and of his giving up unto God through J esus Christ, 
to walk in newness of life : g which sacrament is, by Christ's 
own appointment, to be continued in his church until the 
end of the world. 11 

II. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is 



mysteries of God. Heb. v. 4. And no man 
taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is 
called of God, as was Aaron. 

V. 1 1 Cor. x. 1. Moreover, brethren, I 
would not that ye should be ignorant, how 
that all our fathers were under the cloud, 
and all passed through the sea ; Ver. 2. 
And were all baptized unto Moses in the 
cloud and in the sea; Ver. 3. And did all 
eat the same spiritual meat; Ver. 4. And 
did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for 
they drank of that spiritual Rock that fol- 
lowed them; and that Rock was Christ.) 

I. a Matt, xxviii. 19. [See letter k ofthe 
foregoing Chapter.] 

b 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are 
we all baptized into one body, whether we 
be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond 
or free ; and have been all made to drink 
into one Spirit. 

c Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign 
of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of 
the faith which he had yet being uncircum- 
cised : that he might be the father of all 
them that believe, though they be not cir- 
cumcised ; that righteousness might be 
imputed unto them also. With Col. fi. 11. 
In whom also ye are circumcised with the 
circumcision made without hands, in put- 
ting off the body of the sins of the flesh 
by the circumcision of Christ; Ver. 12. 



Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye 
are risen with him through the faith of the 
operation of God, who hath raised him 
from the dead. 

d Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as 
have been baptized into Christ have put on 
Christ. Rom. vi. 5. For if we have been 
planted together in the likeness of his death, 
we shall be also in the likeness of his re- 
surrection. 

e Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteous- 
ness which we have done, but according to 
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of 
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost. 

f Mark i. 4. John did baptize in the 
wilderness, and preach the baptism of repent- 
ance for the remission of sins. 

s Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many 
of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were 
baptized into his death ? Ver. 4. There- 
fore we are buried with him by bap- 
tism into death; that like as Christ was 
raised up from the dead by the glory of 
the Father, even so we also should walk in 
newness of life. 

h Matt, xxviii. 19. [See in letter * fore- 
going Chapter.] Ver. 20. Teaching them 
to observe all things whatsoever I have 
commanded you : and, lo, I am with you 
alway, even unto the end of the world. 
Amen. 



CHAP. XXVIII. 



BAPTISM. 



115 



water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of 
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a 
minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto. 1 

III. Dipping of the person into the water is not neces- 
sary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or 
sprinkling water upon the person. k 

IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and 
obedience unto Christ, 1 but also the infants of one or both 
believing parents are to be baptized. 111 



II. *Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you 
with water unto repentance : but he that 
cometh after me is mightier than I, whose 
shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall 
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with 
fire. John i. 33. And I knew him not, 
but he that sent me to baptize with water, the 
same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt 
see the Spirit descending, and remaining 
on him, the same is he which baptizeth 
with the Holy Ghost. Matt, xxviii. 19. 
[See in letter k foregoing Chapter.] Ver. 
20. [See in letter h .] 

III. k Heb. ix. 10, 19, 20, 21, 22. Acts 
ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his 
word were baptized: and the same day 
there were added unto them about three 
thousand souls. Acts xvi. 33. And he 
took them the same hour of the night, and 
washed their stripes ; and was baptized, he 
and all his, straightway. Mark vii. 4. 
And when they come from the market, 
except they wash, they eat not. And 
many other things there be which they 
have received to hold, as the washing of 
cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of 
tables. 

IV. 1 Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto 
them, Go ye into all the world, and preach 
the gospel to every creature. Ver. 16. 
He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be 
saved; but he that believeth not shall be 
damned. Acts viii. 37. And Philip said, 
If thou believest with all thine heart, thou 
mayest. And he answered and said, I be- 
lieve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
Ver. 38. And he commanded the chariot 
to stand still : and they went down both 
into the wat er, both Philip and the eunuch ; 
and he baptized him. 

m Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my 
covenant between me and thee, and thy seed 
after thee, in their generations, for an ever- 
lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and 
to thy seed after thee. Ver. 9. And God 
said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my 
covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after 



thee, in their generations. With Gal. iii. 
9. So then they which be of faith are blessed 
with faithful Abraham. Ver. 14. That the 
blessing of Abraham might come on the Gen- 
tiles through Jesus Christ ; that we might 
receive the promise of the Spirit through 
faith. And Col. ii. 11. In whom also ye 
are circumcised with the circumcision made 
without hands, in putting off the body of 
the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of 
Christ ; Ver. 12. Buried with him in bap- 
tism, wherein also ye are risen with him 
through the faith of the operation of God, 
who hath raised him from the dead. And 
Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, 
Eepent, and be baptized every one of you in 
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission 
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the 
Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. For the promise is 
unto you, and to your children, and to all 
that are afar off, even as many as the 
Lord our God shall call. And Eom. iv. 
11. And he received the sign of circum- 
cision, a seal of the righteousness of the 
faith which he had yet being uncircumcised : 
that he might be the father of all them 
that believe, though they be not circum- 
cised ; that righteousness might be imputed 
unto them also : Ver. 12. And the father 
of circumcision to them who are not of the 
circumision only, but who also walk in the 
steps of that faith of our father Abraham, 
which he had being yet uncircumcised. 1 
Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving husband 
is sanctified by the wife, and the unbeliev- 
ing wife is sanctified by the husband : 
else were your children unclean; but now are 
they holy. Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye there- 
fore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost. Mark x. 1 3. And 
they brought young children to him, that he 
should touch them ; and his disciples re- 
buked those that brought them. Ver. 14. 
But when Jesus saw it, he was much dis- 
pleased, and said unto them, Suffer the 
little children to come unto me, and forbid 



116 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXIX. 



V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this 
ordinance, 11 yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably 
annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated or 
saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubt- 
edly regenerated. 13 

VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of 
time wherein it is administered ; q yet notwithstanding, by 
the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not 
only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy 
Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace be- 
longeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, 
in his appointed time. r 

VII. The sacrament of baptism is but once to be ad- 
ministered to any person. 8 



CHAP. XXIX.— Of the Lord's Supper. 

TJR Lord Jesus, in the night wherein he was betraye 
instituted the sacrament of his body and blood, 



them not : for of such is the kingdom of God. 
Ver. 15. Verily I say unto you, Whoso- 
ever shall not receive the kingdom of God as 
a little child, he shall not enter therein. Ver. 
16. And he took them up in his arms, put 
his hands upon them, and blessed them. 
Luke xviii. 15. And they brought unto him 
also infants, that he would touch them : but 
whenhis disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 

V. n Luke vii. 30. But the Pharisees 
and lawyers rejected the counsel of God 
against themselves, being not baptized of him. 
With Exod. iv. 24. And it came to pass by 
the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, 
and sought to kill him. Ver. 25. Then 
Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off 
the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his 
feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband 
art thou to me. Ver. 26. So he let him 
go : then she said, A bloody husband thou 
art, because of the circumcision. 

Rom. iv. 11. [See in letter m.] Acts 
x. 2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47. 

p Acts viii. 13. Then Simon himself be- 
lieved also : and when he was baptized, he 
continued with Philip, and wondered, be- 
holding the miracles and signs which were 
done. Ver. 23. For I perceive that thou art in 
the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. 



VL q John iii. 5. Jesus answei 
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a 
man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he 
cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
Ver. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, 
and thou hearest the sound thereof, but 
canst not tell whence it cometh, and whi- 
ther it goeth : so is every one that is born of 
the Spirit. 

r Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as 

have been baptized into Christ have put on 
Christ. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righte- 
ousness which we have done, but accord- 
ing to his mercy he saved us, by the wash- 
ing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost. Eph. v. 25. Husbands, love your 
wives, even as Christ also loved the church, 
and gave himself for it ; Ver. 26. That he 
might sanctify and cleanse it with the wash- 
ing of water by the word. Acts ii. 38. 
Then Peter said unto them, Eepent, and 
be baptized every one of you in the name of 
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye 
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost 
Ver. 41. Then they that gladly received 
his word were baptized: and the same day 
there were added unto them about three 
thousand souls. 

VII. 8 Tit. iii. 5. [See in letter 



CHAP. XXIX. 



THE LORD'S SUPPER. 



117 



called the Lord's Supper, to be observed in his church unto 
the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance of the 
sacrifice of himself in his death, the sealing all benefits 
thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourishment and 
growth in him, their further engagement in and to all duties 
which they owe unto him, and to be a bond and pledge of 
their communion with him, and with each other, as members 
of his mystical body. a 

II. In this sacrament Christ is not offered up to his Father, 
nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sins of the 
quick or dead ; b but only a commemoration of that one 
offering up of himself, by himself, upon the cross, once for 
all, and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God 
for the same ; c so that the Popish sacrifice of the mass, as 
they call it, is most abominably injurious to Christ's one only 
sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elects 

III. The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed 

I. » 1 Cor. xi. 23. For / have received of often have suffered since the foundation of 
the Lord that which also I delivered unto the world :) but now once, in the end of the 
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in world, hath he appeared, to put away sin 
which he was betrayed, took bread : Ver. by the sacrifice of himself. Ver. 28. So 
24. And when he had given thanks, he Christ was once offered to bear the sins of 
brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, many : and unto them that look for him 
which is broken for you : this do in remem- shall he appear the second time, without 
brance of me. Ver. 25. After the same sin, unto salvation. 

manner also he took the cup, when he had c 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25, 26. [See them in let- 
supped, saying, This cup is the new testament ter a .] Matt. xxvi. 26. And as they were 
in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and 
it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and 
often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, said, Take, eat ; this is my body. Ver. 
ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 1 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, 
Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which we and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all 
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of of it. 

Christ ? the bread which we break, is it not d Heb. vii. 23. And they truly were 

the communion of the body of Christ ? Ver. many priests, because they were not suf- 

17. For we, being many, are one bread, fered to continue by reason of death : Ver. 

and one body : for we are all partakers of 24. But this man, because he continueth 

that one bread. Ver. 21. Ye cannot drink ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 

the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils : Ver. 27. Who needeth not daily, as those 

ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for 

and of the table of devils. 1 Cor. xii. 13. his own sins, and then for the people's : 

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into for this he did once, when he offered up him- 

one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, self. Heb. x. 11. And every priest stand- 

whether we be bond or free ; and have eth daily ministering, and offering often- 

been all made to drink into one Spirit. times the same sacrifices, which can never 

II. t> Heb. ix. 22. And almost all things take away sins : Ver. 12. But this man, 
are by the law purged with blood ; and after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for 
without shedding of blood is no remis- ever sat down on the right hand of God. 
sion. Ver. 25. Nor yet that he should offer Ver. 14. For by one offering he hath per- 
himself often, as the high priest entereth fected for ever them that are sanctified, 
into the holy place every year with blood Ver. 18. Now, where remission of these 
of others; Ver. 26. (For then must he is, there is no more offering for sin. 



118 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXIX. 



his ministers to declare his word of institution to the people, 
to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby 
to set them apart from a common to a holy use; and to take 
and break the bread, to take the cup, and (they communi- 
cating also themselves) to give both to the communicants; 6 
but to none who are not then present in the congregation/ 

IV. Private masses, or receiving this sacrament by a 
priest, or any other, alone ; g as likewise the denial of the cup 
to the people ; h worshipping the elements, the lifting them 
up, or carrying them about for adoration, and the reserving 
them for any pretended religious use ; are all contrary to the 
nature of this sacrament, and to the institution of Christ. 1 

V. The outward elements in this sacrament, duly set apart 
to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation to him 
crucified, as that truly, yet sacramentally only, they are some- 
times called by the name of the things they represent, to 
wit, the body and blood of Christ ; k albeit, in substance and 
nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as 
they were before. 1 



HI. e Matt. xxvi. 26, 27. [See in let- 
ter c.] Ver. 28. For this is my blood of the 
new testament, which is shed for many for 
the remission of sins. And Mark xiv. 22. 
And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and 
blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and 
said, Take, eat : this is my body. Ver. 23. 
And he took the cup, and when he had given 
thanks, he gave it to them: and they all 
drank of it. Ver. 24. And he said unto 
them, This is my blood of the new testa- 
ment, which is shed for many. And Luke 
xxii. 19. And he took bread, and gave 
thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, 
saying, This is my body, which is given for 
you : this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 
20. Likewise also the cup after supper, say- 
ing, This cup is the new testament in my 
blood, which is shed for you. With 1 Cor. 
xi. 23-26. [See all in letter ».] 

f Acts xx. 7. And upon the first day of 
the week, when the disciples came together 
to break bread, Paul preached unto them, 
ready to depart on the morrow ; and con- 
tinued his speech until midnight. 1 Cor. 
xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into 
one place, this is not to eat the Lord's 
supper. 

IV. g 1 Cor. x. 6. Now these things 
were our examples, to the intent we should 
not lust after evil things, as they also 
lusted. 



h Mark. xiv. 23. [See in letter c .] 1 
Cor. xi. 25, 26. [See in letter a .] Ver. 
27. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this 
bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, un- 
worthily, shall be guilty of the body and 
blood of the Lord. Ver. 28. But let a man 
examine himself, and so let him eat of that 
bread, and drink of that cup. Ver. 29. For 
he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, 
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, 
not discerning the Lord's body. 

I Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do wor- 
ship me, teaching for doctrines the command- 
ments of men. 

V. k Matt. xxvi. 26. And as they were 
eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and 
brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and 
said, Take, eat ; this is my body. Ver. 
27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, 
and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all 
of it : Ver. 28. For this is my blood of the 
new testament, which is shed for many for 
the remission of sins. 

I I Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat 
this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the 
Lord's death till he come. Ver. 27. Where- 
fore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and 
drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall 
be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 
Ver. 28. But let a man examine himself, 
and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of 
that cup. Matt. xxvi. 29. But I say unto 



CHAP. XXIX. THE LORD'S SUPPER. 119 

VI. That doctrine which maintains a change of the sub- 
stance of bread and wine into the substance of Christ's body 
and blood (commonly called Transubstantiation) by consecra- 
tion of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to 
Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason ; 
overthroweth the nature of the sacrament ; and hath been and 
is the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries. 111 

VII. Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible 
elements in this sacrament, 11 do then also inwardly by faith, 
really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiri- 
tually, receive and feed upon Christ crucified, and all bene- 
fits of his death : the body and blood of Christ being then 
not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and 
wine ; yet as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of 
believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are 
to their outward senses. 

VIII. Although ignorant and wicked men receive the out- 
ward elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the 
thing signified thereby ; but by their unworthy coming 
thereunto are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to 
their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly 
persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, so 
are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without 
great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of 
these holy mysteries/ or be admitted thereunto. q 



you, I will not drink henceforth of this 
fruit of the vine, until that day when I 
drink it new with you in my Father's 
kingdom. 

VI. m Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven 
must receive until the times of restitution of 
all things, which God hath spoken by the 
mouth of all his holy prophets since the 
world began. With 1 Cor. xi. 24. And, 
when he had given thanks, he brake it, 
and said, Take, eat ; this is my body, 
which is broken for you : this do in remem- 
brance of me. Ver. 25. After the same 
manner also he took the cup, when he had 
supped, saying, This cup is the new testa- 
ment in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye 
drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. 
[See in letter i.] Luke xxiv. 6. He is not 
here, but is risen : remember how he spake 
unto you when he was yet in Galilee. Ver. 
39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is 
I myself: handle me, and see ; for a spirit 
hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 



VII. n 1 Cor. xi. 28. [See in letter ».] 

° 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not the communion of the blood 
of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it 
not the communion of the body of Christ? 

VIII. p 1 Cor. xi. 27, 28. [See in let- 
ter Ver. 29. For he that eateth and 
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh dam- 
nation to himself, not discerning the Lord's 
body. 2 Cor. vi. 14. Be ye not unequally 
yoked together with unbelievers : for what 
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighte- 
ousness ? and what communion hath light 
with darkness f Ver. 15. And what con- 
cord hath Christ with Belial ? or what part 
hath he that believeth with an infidel ? Ver. 
16. And what agreement hath the temple of 
God with idols ? for ye are the temple of 
the living God ; as God hath said, I will 
dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I 
will be their God, and they shall be my 
people. 

i 1 Cor. v. 6. Tour glorying is not good. 



120 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XX 



by 



CHAP. XXX.— Of Church Censures. 

I. mHE Lord Jesus, as king and head of his church, hat 
JL therein appointed a government in the hand o 
church-officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.* 

II. To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heave 
are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respe 
tively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom agains 
the impenitent, both by the word and censures ; and to ope 
it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and 
absolution from censures, as occasion shall required 

when they were come to him, he said unto 
them, Ye know, from the first day that I 
came into Asia, after what manner I have 
been with you at all seasons. Heb. xiii. 
7. Remember them which have the rule 
over you, who have spoken unto you the 
word of God ; whose faith follow, consider- 
ing the end of their conversation. Ver. 
17. Obey them that have the rule over you, 
and submit yourselves : for they watch for 
your souls, as they that must give account ; 
that they may do it with joy, and not with 
grief : for that is unprofitable for you. 
Ver. 24. Salute all them that have the rule 
over you, and all the saints. They of Italy 
salute you. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath 
set some in the church, first, apostles ; 
secondarily, prophets ; thirdly, teachers ; 
after that miracles ; then gifts of healings, 
helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 
Matt, xxviii. 18. And Jesus came and 
spake unto them, saying, All power is given 
unto me in heaven and in earth. Ver. 1 9. 
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost ; 
Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all 
things whatsoever I have commanded you : 
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto 
the end of the world. Amen. 

II. b Matt. xvi. 19. And I will give unto 
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven : and 
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be 
bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt 
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 
Matt, xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to 
hear them, tell it unto the church : but if 
he neglect to hear the church, let him be 
unto thee as an heathen man and a pub- 
lican. Ver. 18. Verily I say unto you, 
Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be 
bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall 
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. John 
xx. 21. Then said Jesus to them again, 



Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the 
whole lump ? Ver. 7. Purge out therefore 
the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as 
ye are unleavened. For even Christ our 
passover is sacrificed for us. Ver. 13. 
But them that are without God judgeth. 
Therefore put away from among yourselves 
that wicked person. 2 Thess. iii. 6. Now 
we command you, brethren, in the name of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw 
yourselves from every brother that walketh 
disorderly, and not after the tradition 
which he received of us. Ver. 14. And if 
any man obey not our word by this epistle, 
note that man, and have no company with him, 
that he may be ashamed. Ver. 15. Yet 
count him not as an enemy, but admonish 
him as a brother. Matt. vii. 6. Give not 
that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast 
ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample 
them under their feet, and turn again and 
rend you. 

I. a Isa. ix. 6. For unto us a child is 
born, unto us a son is given; and the 
government shall be upon his shoulder: and 
his name shall be called Wonderful, Coun- 
sellor, The mighty God, The everlasting 
Father, The Prince of Peace. Ver. 7. Of 
the increase of his government and peace 
there shall be no end, upon the throne of 
David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, 
and to establish it with judgment and with 
justice from henceforth even for ever. 
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform 
this. 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule 
well be counted worthy of double honour, 
especially they who labour in the word and 
doctrine. 1 Thess. v. 12. And we beseech 
you, brethren, to know them which labour 
among you, and are over you in the Lord, 
and admonish you. Acts xx. 17. And 
from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called 
the cidcn of the church. Ver. 18. And 



CHAP. XXXI. SYNODS AND COUNCILS. 



121 



III. Church censures are necessary for the reclaiming and 
gaining of offending brethren ; for deterring of others from 
the like offences ; for purging out of that leaven which might 
infect the whole lump ; for vindicating the honour of Christ, 
and the holy profession of the gospel ; and for preventing 
the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the church, 
if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to 
be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders. 

IV. For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of 
the church are to proceed by admonition, suspension from 
the sacrament of the Lord's Supper for a season, and by ex- 

l communication from the church, according to the nature 
of the crime, and demerit of the person/ 1 



CHAP. XXXI. — Of Synods and Councils. 



I. TTlOB the better government, and further edification of 
Jj the church, there ought to be such assemblies as are 
commonly called Synods or Councils.* 



Peace be unto you : as my Father hath 
sent me, even so send I you. Ver. 22. 
And when he had said this, he breathed on 
them, and saith unto them, Keceive ye the 
Holy Ghost. Ver. 23. Whose soever sins 
ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and 
whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 
2 Cor. ii. 6. Sufficient to such a man is 
this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 
Ver. 7. So that contrariwise ye ought 
rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest 
perhaps such an one should be swallowed 
up with over much sorrow. Ver. 8. 
Wherefore I beseech you, that ye would 
confirm your love toward him. 

III. c [1 Cor. v. throughout.] 1 Tim. 
v. 20. Tnem that sin rebuke before all, 
that others also may fear. Matt. vii. 6. 
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, 
neither cast ye your pearls before swine, 
lest they trample them under their feet, and 
turn again and rend you. 1 Tim. i. 20. Of 
whom is Hymeneus and Alexander ; whom 
I have delivered unto Satan, that they may 
learn not to blaspheme. [1 Cor. xi. 27 to the 
end.] With Jude, Ver. 23. And others 
save with fear, pulling them out of the fire ; 
hating even the garment spotted by the 



you, brethren, to know them which labour 
among you, and are over you in the Lord, 
and admonish you. 2 Thess. iii. 6. Now 
we command you, brethren, in the name 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw 
yourselves from every brother that walketh 
disorderly, and not after the tradition 
which he received of us. Ver. 14. And if 
any man obey not our word by this epistle, 
note that man, and have no company with 
him, that he may be ashamed. Ver. 15. 
Yet count him not as an enemy, but ad- 
monish him as a brother. 1 Cor. v. 4. In 
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when 
ye are gathered together, and my spirit, 
with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
Ver. 5. To deliver such an one unto Satan 
for the destruction of the flesh, that the 
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord 
Jesus. Ver. 13. But them that are with- 
out God judgeth. Therefore put away 
from among yourselves that wicked person. 
Matt, xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to 
hear them, tell it unto the church : but if he 
neglect to hear the church, let him be unto 
thee as an heathen man and a publican. Tit. 
iii. 10. A man that is an heretick, after 
the first and second admonition, reject. 



IV. d 1 Thess. v. 12. And we beseech I. a Acts xv. 2. When therefore Paul 



122 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. 



CHAP. XXX 



II. As magistrates may lawfully call a synod of ministers, 
and other fit persons, to consult and advise with about mat 
ters of religion ; b so if magistrates be open enemies to th 
church, the ministers of Christ, of themselves, by virtue o 
their office, or they, with other fit persons upon delegation 
from their churches, may meet together in such assemblies. 

III. It belongeth to synods and councils ministerially to 
determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to 
set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the 
publick worship of God, and government of his church ; to 
receive complaints in cases of mal-ad ministration, and 
authoritatively to determine the same : which decrees and 
determinations, if consonant to the word of God, are to be 
received with reverence and submission, not only for their 
agreement with the word, but also for the power whereby 
they are made, as being an ordinance of God, appointed 
thereunto in his word. d 

IY. All synods or councils since the apostles' times, 
whether general or particular, may err, and many have 



and Barnabas had no small dissension and 
disputation with them, they determined 
that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other 
of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto 
the apostles and elders about this question. 
Ver. 4. And when they were come to 
Jerusalem, they were received of the church, 
and of the apostles and elders, and they de- 
clared all things that God had done with 
them. Ver. 6. And the apostles and elders 
came together for to consider of this matter. 

II. b Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be 
thy nursing -fathers, and their queens thy 
nursing -mothers : they shall bow down to 
thee with their face toward the earth, and 
lick up the dust of thy feet ; and thou 
shalt know that I am the Lord : for they 
chall not be ashamed that wait for me. 
1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first 
of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, 
and giving of thanks, be made for all men : 
Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in 
authority; that we may lead a quiet and 
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, 
[2 Chron. xix. 8 to the end. 2 Chron. 
Chapters xxix. and xxx. throughout.] 
Matt. ii. 4 . And when he had gathered all 
the chief priests and scribes of the people to- 
gether, he demanded of them where Christ 
should be born. Ver. 5. And they said 
unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea : for 
thus it is written by the prophet. Prov. 
xi. 14. Where no counsel is, the people fall : 



but in the multitude of counsellors there is 
safety. 

c Acts xv. 2, 4. [See in letter a .] Ver. 
22. Then pleased it the apostles and elders, 
with the whole church, to send chosen men of 
their own company to Antioch with Paul 
and Barnabas ; namely, Judas surnamed 
Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the 
brethren : Ver. 23. And they wrote letters 
by them after this manner ; The apostles, 
and elders, and brethren, send greeting unto 
the brethren which are of the Gentiles in 
Antioch, and Syria, and Cilicia. Ver. 25. 
It seemed good unto us, being assembled with 
one accord, to send chosen men unto you 
with our beloved Barnabas and Paul. 

III. * Acts xv. 15, 19, 24, 27, 28, 29, 
30, 31. [See in the Bible.] Acts xvi. 4. 
And as they went through the cities, they 
delivered them the decrees for to keep, that 
were ordained of the apostles and elders which 
were at Jerusalem. Matt, xviii. 17. And 
if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto 
the church : but if he neglect to hear the 
church, let him be unto thee as an heathen 
man and a publican. Ver. 18. Verily I 
say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on 
earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatso- 
ever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in 
heaven. Ver. 19. Again I say unto you, 
That if two of you shall agree on earth as 
touching any thing that they shall ask, it 
shall be done for them of my Father which i 



CHAP. XXXII. STATE OF MEN AFTER DEATH, ETC. 



123 



erred ; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith 
or practice, but to be used as an help in both. e 

V. Synods and councils are to handle or conclude nothing 
but that which is ecclesiastical ; and are not to intermeddle 
with civil affairs, which concern the commonwealth, unless 
by way of humble petition, in cases extraordinary ; or by 
way of advice for satisfaction of conscience, if they be there- 
unto required by the civil magistrate/ 



CHAP. XXXII.— Of the State of Men after Death, and of 
the Resurrection of the Dead, 

I. rpHE bodies of men after death return to dust, and see 
JL corruption ; a but their souls, (which neither die nor 
sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return 
to God who gave them. b The souls of the righteous, being 
then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest 
heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and 
glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and 



in heaven. Ver. 20. For where two or 
three are gathered together in my name, 
there am I in the midst of them. 

IV. e Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon 
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, 
Jesus Christ himself being the chief cor- 
ner-stone. Acts xvii. 11. These were 
more noble than those in Thessalonica, in 
that they received the word with all readi- 
ness of mind, and searched the scriptures 
daily, whether those things were so. 1 Cor. 
ii. 5. That your faith should not stand in 
the wisdom of men, but in the power of 
God. 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have 
dominion over your faith, but are helpers of 
your joy : for by faith ye stand. 

V. f Luke xii. 13. And one of the com- 
pany said unto him, Master, speak to my 
brother, that he divide the inheritance 
with me. Ver. 14. And he said unto him, 
Man, who made me a judge or a divider over 
you ? John xviii. 36. Jesus answered, 
My kingdom is not of this world. If my 
kingdom were of this world, then would 
my servants fight, that I should not be de- 
livered to the Jews : but how is my king- 
dom not from hence. 

I. a Gen. iii. 19. In the sweat of thy 



face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return 
unto the ground; for out of it wast thou 
taken : for dust thou art, and unto dust 
shalt thou return. Acts xiii. 36. For 
David, after he had served his own gene- 
ration by the will of God, fell on sleep, and 
was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption. 

b Luke xxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto 
him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt 
thou be with me in paradise. Eccl. xii. 7. 
Then shall the dust return to the earth as 
it was ; and the spirit shall return unto God 
who gave it. 

c Heb. xii. 23. To the general assembly 
and church of the first-born, which are 
written in heaven, and to God the Judge of 
all, and to the spirits of just men made 
perfect. 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know, that, 
if our earthly house of this tabernacle were 
dissolved, we have a building of God, an 
house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens. Ver. 6. Therefore we are always 
confident, knowing that, whilst we are at 
home in the body, we are absent from the 
Lord: Ver. 8. We are confident, I say, 
and willing rather to be absent from the 
body, and to be present with the Lord. Phil, 
i. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, 
having a desire to depart, and to be with 



124 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXXIII. 



the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain 
in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of 
the great day. d Besides these two places for souls separated 
from their bodies, the scripture acknowledged none. 

II. At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, 
but be changed : e and all the dead shall be raised up with 
the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different 
qualities, which shall be united again to their souls for ever. f 

III. The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, 
be raised to dishonour ; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, 
unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious 
body. g 



CHAP. XXXLIL—Ofthe Last Judgment. 



I. /^\ OD hath appointed a day wherein he will 
\JT judge the world in righteousness by Jesus 



Christ; which is far better. With Acts 
iii. 21. Whom the heaven must receive until 
the times of restitution of all things, which 
God hath spoken by the mouth of all his 
holy prophets since the world began. And 
Eph. iv. 10. He that descended is the same 
also that ascended up far above all heavens, 
that he might fill all things. 

d Luke xvi. 23. And in hell he lifted up 
his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abra- 
ham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
Ver. 24. And he cried, and said, Father 
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send 
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his 
finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for 
I am tormented in this flame. Acts i. 25. 
That he may take part of this ministry 
and apostleship, from which Judas by 
transgression fell, that he might go to Ms 
own place. Jude, Ver. 6. And the angels 
which kept not their first estate, but left 
their own habitation, he hath reserved in 
everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the 
judgment of the great day. Ver. 7. Even 
as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities 
about them, in like manner, giving them- 
selves over to fornication, and going after 
strange flesh, are set forth for an example, 
suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 1 Pet. 
iii. 1 9 . By which also he went and preached 
unto the spirits in prison. 



II. e 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we which are 
alive and remain shall be caught up together 
with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord 
in the air : and so shall we ever be with 
the Lord. 1 Cor. xv. 51. Behold, I shew 
you a mystery ; We shall not all sleep, but 
loe shall all be changed. Ver. 52. In a mo- 
ment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last 
trump, (for the trumpet shall sound ;) and 
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and 
we shall be changed. 

f Job xix. 26. And though after my 
skin worms destroy this body, yet in my 
flesh shall I see God : Ver. 27. Whom I 
shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall be- 
hold, and not another; though my reins be 
consumed within me. 1 Cor. xv. 42. So 
also is the resurrection of the dead ; it is 
sown in corruption, it is raised in incorrup- 
tion: Ver. 43. It is sown in dishonour, 
it is raised in glory : it is sown in weak- 
ness, it is raised in power : Ver. 44. It is 
sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual 
body. There is a natural body, and there 
is a spiritual body. 

III. s Acts xxiv. 15. And have hope to- 
ward God, which they themselves also 
allow, that there shall be a resurrection of 
the dead, both of the fust and unjust. John 
v. 28. Marvel not at this : for the hour is 
coming, in the which all that are in the 



CHAP. XXXIII. 



THE LAST JUDGMENT. 



125 



Christ/ to whom all power and judgment is given of the 
Father. b In which day, not only the apostate angels shall 
be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon 
earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an 
account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive 
according to what they have done in the body, whether good 
or evil. d 

II. The end of God's appointing this day is for the mani- 
festation of the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation 
of the elect, and of his justice in the damnation of the repro- 
bate, who are wicked and disobedient. For then shall the 
righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of 
joy and refreshing which shall come from the presence of the 
Lord ; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not 
the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast into eternal torments, 
and be punished with everlasting destruction from the pre- 
sence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. 6 



graves shall hear his voice, Ver. 29. And 
shall come forth ; they that have done good, 
unto the resurrection of life; and they that 
have done evil, unto the resurrection of dam- 
nation. 1 Cor. xv. 43. [See in letter f .] 
Philip, iii. 21. Who shall change our vile 
body, that it may be fashioned like unto his 
glorious body, according to the working 
whereby he is able even to subdue all 
things unto himself. 

I. a Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath ap- 
pointed a day, in the which he will judge the 
world in righteousness by that man whom he 
hath ordained; whereof he hath given 
assurance unto all men, in that he hath 
raised him from the dead. 

b John v. 22. For the Father judgeth 
no man, but hath committed all judgment unto 
the Son. Ver. 27. And hath given him au- 
thority to execute judgment also, because he 
is the Son of man. 

c 1 Cor. vi. 3. Know ye not that we shall 
judge angels ? how much more things that 
pertain to this life ? Jude, Ver. 6. [See 
letter d Chapter foregoing.] 2 Pet. ii. 4. 
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, 
but cast them down to hell, and delivered 
them into chains of darkness, to be reserved 
unto judgment. 

d 2 Cor. v. 10. For we must all appear 
before the judgment-seat of Christ; that 
every one may receive the things done in his 
body, according to that he hath done, 
whether it be good or bad. Eccl. xii. 1 4. 



For God shall bring every work into judg- 
ment, with every secret thing, whether it be 
good, or whether it be evil. Rom. ii. 16. In 
the day when God shall judge the secrets of 
men by Jesus Christ, according to my gos- 
pel. Rom. xiv. 10, But why dost thou 
judge thy brother ? or why dost thou set 
at nought thy brother ? for we shall all 
stand before the judgment- seat of Christ. Ver. 
12. So then every one of us shall give ac- 
count of himself to God. Matt. xii. 36. 
But I say unto you, That every idle word 
that men shall speak, they shall give account 
thereof in the day of judgment. Ver. 37. 
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and 
by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 

. II. e [Matt. xxv. 31, to the end.] Rom. 
ii. 5. But, after thy hardness and impeni- 
tent heart, treasurest up unto thyself 
wrath against the day of wrath and revela- 
tion of the righteous judgment of God; Ver. 
6. Who will render every man according 
to his deeds. Rom. ix. 22. What if God, 
willing to shew his wrath, and to make his 
power known, endured with much long- 
suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to de- 
struction; Ver. 23. And that he might 
make known the riches of his glory on the 
vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared 
unto glory ? Matt. xxv. 21. His lord said 
unto him, Well done, thou good and faith- 
ful servant ; thou hast been faithful over 
a few things, I will make thee ruler over 
many things : enter thou into the joy of thy 
Lord. Acts iii. 19. Repent ye therefore, 



120 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH. CHAP. XXXIII. 



III. As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded 
that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men 
from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their 
adversity ; f so will he have that day unknown to men, that 
they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watch- 
ful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come; 
and may be ever prepared to say, Come, Lord Jesus, come 
quickly. Amen. g 



and be converted, that your sins may be 
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall 
come from the presence of the Lord. 2 Thess. 
i. 7-10. [See in the Bible.] 

HI. f 2 Pet. iii. 11. Seeing then that all 
these things shall be dissolved, what man- 
ner of persons ought ye to be in all holy 
conversation and godliness ? Ver. 14. 
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for 
such things, be diligent, that ye may be 
found of him in peace, without spot, and 
blameless. 2 Cor. v. 10, [See letter «.] 
Ver. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of 
the Lord, we persuade men : but we are 
made manifest unto God ; and I trust 
also are made manifest in your consciences. 
2 Thess. i. 5. Which is a manifest token 
of the righteous judgment of God, that ye 
may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, 
for which ye also suffer : Ver. 6. Seeing it 
is a righteous thing with God to recompense 
tribulation to them that trouble you; 
Ver. 7. And to you who are troubled rest 
with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be re- 
vealed from heaven withhis mighty angels. 
Luke xxi. 7. And then shall they see the 
Son of man coming in a cloud, with power 
and great glory. Ver. 28. And when 
these things begin to come to pass, then 



look up, and lift up your heads; for your re- 
demption draweth nigh. Rom. viii. 23. 
And not only they, but ourselves also, 
which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, 
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, 
waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemp- 
tion of our body. Ver. 24. For we are 
saved by hope : but hope that is seen is not 
hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he 
yet hope for ? Ver. 25. But if we hope 
for that we see not, then do we with pa- 
tience wait for it. 

s Matt. xxiv. 36, 42, 43, 44. [See in 
the Bible.] Mark xiii. 35. Watch ye there- 
fore : for ye know not when the master of the 
house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at 
the cock -crowing, or in the morning ; Ver. 
36. Lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleep- 
ing. Ver. 37. And what I say unto you, 
1 say unto all, Watch. Luke xii. 35. Let 
your loins be girded about, and your lights 
burning ; Ver. 36. And ye yourselves 
like unto men that wait for their lord, when 
he will return from the wedding; that, 
when he cometh and knocketh, they may 
open unto him immediately. Rev. xxii. 20. 
He which testifieth these things saith, 
Surely 1 come quickly : Amen. Even so, 
come, Lord Jesus. 



'ins 



LARGER CATECHISM; 

AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE 
ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION 
BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS 
OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND. 

AND 

APPROVED ANNO 1648, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
TO BE A DIRECTORY FOR CATECHISING SUCH AS HAVE MADE SOME PROFICIENCY 
IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GROUNDS OF RELIGION, 

■WITH 



THE PEOOFS FEOM THE SCEIPTUEE. 



Assembly at Edinburgh, July 2, 1648. Sess. 10. 



Act approving the Larger Catechism. 

THE General Assembly having exactly examined and seriously con- 
sidered the Larger Catechism, agreed upon by the Assembly of 
Divines sitting at Westminister, with assistance of Commissioners from 
this Kirk, copies thereof being printed, and sent to Presbyteries, for the 
more exact trial thereof ; and publick intimation being frequently made in 
this Assembly, that every one that had any doubts or objections upon it 
might put them in ; do find, upon due examination thereof, That the said 
Catechism is agreeable to the word of God, and in nothing contrary to 
the received doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Kirk ; a 
necessary part of the intended uniformity in religion, and a rich treasure 
for increasing knowledge among the people of God : and therefore the 
Assembly, as they bless the Lord that so excellent a Catechism is prepared, 
so they approve the same, as a part of uniformity ; agreeing, for their 
part, that it be a common Catechism for the three kingdoms, and a Direc- 
tory for catechising such as have made some proficiency in the knowledge 
of the grounds of religion. 



THE 



LARGER CATECHISM. 



Quest. 1. JJfHAT is the chief and highest end of man? 

Ans. Man's chief and highest end is to glo- 
rify God/ and fully to enjoy him for ever.* 

Q. 2. How doth it appear that there is a God ? 

A, The very light of nature in man, and the works of 
God, declare plainly that there is a God ; c but his word and 
Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto 
men for their salvation/ 1 



1. a Rom. xi. 36. For of him, and 
through him, and to him, are all things: 
to whom be glory for ever. Amen. 1 Cor. 
x. 31. Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, 
or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of 
God. 

b Ps. lxxiii. 24. Thou shalt guide me 
with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me 
to glory. Ver. 25. Whom have I in heaven 
but thee ? and there is none upon earth that 
I desire besides thee. Ver. 26. My flesh 
and my heart faileth : but God is the 
strength of my heart, and my portion for 
ever. Ver. 27. For, lo, they that are far 
from thee shall perish : thou hast destroyed 
all them that go a whoring from thee. 
Ver. 28. But it is good for me to draw near 
to God: I have put my trust in the Lord 
God, that I may declare all thy works. 
John xvii. 21. That they all may be one; 
as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that 
they also may be one in us : that the world 
may believe that thou hast sent me. Ver. 
22. And the glory which thou gavest me 
I have given them ; that they may be one, 
even as we are one : Ver. 23. I in them, 
and thou in me, that they may be made 
perfect in one ; and that the world may 
know that thou hast sent me, and hast 
loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

2. c Rom. i. 19. Because that which may 
be known of God is manifest in them : for 



God hath shewed it unto them. Ver. 20. 
For the invisible things of him from the 
creation of the world are clearly seen, being 
understood by the things that are made, even 
his eternal power and Godhead ; so that 
they are without excuse. Ps. xix. 1 . The 
heavens declare the glory of God; and the 
firmament sheweth his handy-work. Ver. 
2. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night 
unto night sheweth knowledge. Ver. 3. 
There is no speech nor language where their 
voice is not heard. Acts xvii. 28. For in 
him we live, and move, and have our being. 

d 1 Cor. ii. 9. But, as it is written, Eye 
hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have 
entered into the heart of man, the things 
which God hath prepared for them that 
love him. Ver. 10. But God hath revealed 
them unto us by his Spirit : for the Spirit 
searcheth all things, yea, the deep things 
of God. 2 Tim. iii. 15. And that from a 
child thou hast known the holy scriptures, 
which are able to make thee wise unto sal- 
vation through faith which is in Christ 
Jesus. Ver. 16. All scripture is given by 
inspiration of God, and is profitable for 
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in- 
struction in righteousness; Ver. 17. That 
the man of God may be perfect, throughly 
furnished unto all good works. Isa. lix. 21. 
As for me, this is my covenant with them, 
saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon 



130 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 3. What is the word of God ? 

A. The holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament 
are the word of God/ the only rule of faith and obedience/ 

Q. 4. How doth it appear that the scriptures are the word 
of God? 

A. The scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of 
God, by their majesty g and purity ; h by the consent of all 
the parts/ and the scope of the whole, which is to give all 
glory to God ; k by their light and power to convince and 
convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto sal- 
vation : 1 but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with 



thee, and my words which I have put in 
thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy 
mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, 
nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, 
saith the Lord, from henceforth and for 
ever. 

3. e 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given 
by inspiration of God. 2 Pet. i. 19. We 
have also a more sure word of prophecy; 
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, 
as unto a light that shineth in a dark 
place, until the day dawn, and the day- 
star arise in your hearts : Ver. 20. Know- 
ing this first, that no prophecy of the scrip, 
ture is of any private interpretation. Ver. 
21. For the prophecy came not in old 
time by the will of man ; hut holy men of 
God spake as they were moved by the. Holy 
Ghost. 

f Eph. ii. 20. And are built upon the 
foundation of the apostles and prophets, 
Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner- 
stone. Eev. xxii. 18. For I testify unto 
every man that heareth the words of the 
prophecy of this book, If any man shall add 
unto these things, God shall add unto him 
the plagues that are written in this book : 
Ver. 19. And if any man shall take away 
from the words of the book of this pro- 
phecy, God shall take away his part out of 
the book of life, and out of the holy city, 
and from the things which are written in 
this book. Isa. viii. 20. To the law and 
to the testimony : if they speak not accord- 
ing to this word, it is because there is no 
light in them. Luke xvi. 29. They have 
Moses and the prophets; let them hear 
them. Ver. 31. If they hear not Moses 
and the prophets, neither will they be per- 
suaded though one rose from the dead. 
Gal. i. 8. But though we, or an angel 
from heaven, preach any other gospel unto 
you than that which we have preached 
unto you, let him be accursed. Ver. 9. 



As we said before, so say I now again, If 
any man preach any other gospel unto you 
than that ye have received, let him be ac- 
cursed. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. [See in letter a.] 

4. s Hos. viii. 12. I have written to him 
the great things of my law, but they were 
counted as a strange thing. 1 Cor. ii. 6. 
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that 
are perfect ; yet not the wisdom of this 
world, nor of the princes of this world, 
that come to nought : Ver. 7. But we 
speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even 
the hidden wisdom, which God ordained 
before the world unto our glory. Ver. 
13. Which things also we speak, not in the 
words which man's wisdom teacheth, but 
which the Holy Ghost teacheth ; comparing 
spiritual things with spiritual. Ps. cxix. 
18. Open thou mine eyes, that I may be- 
hold wondrous things out of thy law. Ver. 
129. Thy testimonies are wonderful : there- 
fore doth my soul keep them. 

h Ps. xii. 6. The words of the Lord are 
pure words : as silver tried in a furnace of 
earth, purified seven times. Ps. cxix. 
140. Thy word is very pure : therefore thy 
servant loveth it. 

1 Acts x. 43. To him give all the prophets 
witness, that, through his name, whosoever 
believeth in him shall receive remission of 
sins. Acts xxvi. 22. Having therefore 
obtained help of God, I continue unto this 
day, witnessing both to small and great, 
saying none other things than those which 
the prophets and Moses did say should come. 

k Kom. iii. 19. Now we know, that what 
things soever the law saith, it saith to 
them who are under the law ; that every 
mouth may be stopped, and all the world may 
become guilty before God. Ver. 27. Where 
is boasting then? It is excluded. By 
what law? of works? Nay ; but by the 
law of faith. 

1 Acts xviij. 28. For he mightily con- 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



131 



the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to per- 
suade it that they are the very word of God. m 

Q. 5r What do the scriptures principally teach ? 

A. The scriptures principally teach, what man is to be- 
lieve concerning God, and what duty God requires of 
man. n 



WHAT MAN OUGHT TO BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD. 

Q. 6, What do the scriptures make known of God ? 

A. The scriptures make known what God is, the persons 
in the Godhead/ his decrees," 1 and the execution of his de- 
crees. 1 

Q. 7. What is God? 

A, God is a Spirit/ in and of himself infinite in being/ 



vinced the Jews, and that publickly, shew- 
ing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. 
Heb. iv. 12. For the word of God is quick, 
and powerful, and sharper than any two- 
edged sword, piercing even to the dividing 
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the 
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the 
thoughts and intents of the heart. James i. 
18. Of his own will begat he us with the 
word of truth, that we should be a kind of 
first-fruits of his creatures. Ps. xix. 7. 
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting 
the soul: the testimony of the Lord is 
sure, making wise the simple : Ver. 8. 
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing 
the heart: the commandment of the Lord 
is pure, enlightening the eyes : Ver. 9. The 
fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for 
ever : the judgments of the Lord are true 
and righteous altogether. Rom. xv. 4. 
For whatsoever things were written afore- 
time were written for our learning; that 
we, through patience and comfort of the 
scriptures, might have hope. Acts xx. 32. 
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, 
and to the word of his grace, which is able 
to build you up, and to give you an inheri- 
tance among all them which are sanctified. 

m John xvi. 13. Howbeit when he, the 
Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you 
into all truth: for he shall not speak of 
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, 
that shall he speak : and he will shew you 
things to come. Ver. 14. He shall glorify 
me ; for he shall receive of mine, and shall 
shew it unto you. 1 John ii. 20. But ye 
have an unction from the Holy One, and ye 
know all things. Ver. 27. But the anoint- 
ing which ye have received of him abideth 
in you ; and ye need not that any man 



teach you : but as the same anointing teach- 
eth you of all things, and is truth, and is 
no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye 
shall abide in him. John xx. 31. But 
these are written, that ye might believe that 
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and 
that believing ye might have life through 
his name. 

5. n 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the form of 
sound words, which thou hast heard of me, 
in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 

6. Heb. xi. 6. But without faith it is 
impossible to please him : for he that Com- 
eth to God must believe that he is, and that 
he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek 
him. 

p 1 John v. 17. For there are three that 
bear record in heaven, the Father, the 
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these 
three are one. 

q Acts xv. 14. Simeon hath declared 
how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, 
to take out of them a people for his name. 
Ver. 15. And to this agree the words of the 
prophets ; as it is written. Ver. 18. Known 
unto God are all his works from the begin- 
ning of the world. 

r Acts iv. 27. For of a truth, against 
thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast 
anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, 
with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, 
were gathered together, Ver. 28. For to 
do xohatsoever thy hand and thy counsel de- 
termined before to be done. 

7. s John iv. 24. God is a Spirit : and 
they that worship him must worship him 
in spirit and in truth. 

t Exod. iii. 14. And God said unto 
Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, 
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of 



132 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



glory/ blessedness/ and perfection/ all-sufficient/ eternal/ 
unchangeable/ incomprehensible/ every where present/ al- 
mighty/ knowing all things/ most wise/ mpst holy, g most 
]ust, h most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abun- 
dant in goodness and truth. 1 

Q. 8. Are there more Gods than one ? 

A. There is but one only, the living and true God. k 

Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead ? 

A. There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, 
the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and these three are one true, 



Israel, 1 AM hath sent me unto you. Job 
xi. 7. Canst thou by searching find out 
God? canst thou find out the Almighty 
unto perfection ? Ver. 8. It is as high as 
heaven; what canst thou do ? deeper than 
hell; what canst thou know? Ver. 9. 
The measure thereof is longer than the earth, 
and broader than the sea. 

v Acts vii. 2. The God of glory appeared 
unto our father Abraham, when he was in 
Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran. 

* 1 Tim. vi. 15. Which in his times he 
shall shew, who is the blessed and only 
Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of 
lords. 

x Matt. v. 48. Be ye therefore perfect, 
even as your Father which is in heaven is 

perfect. 

y Gen. xvii. 1. And when Abram was 
ninety years old and nine, the Lord ap- 
peared to Abram, and said unto him, I am 
the Almighty God: walk before me, and be 
thou perfect. 

z Ps. xc. 2. Before the mountains were 
brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed 
the earth and the world, even from ever- 
lasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

a Mai. iii. 6. For I am the Lord, I 
change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are 
not consumed. James i. 17. Every good 
gift and every perfect gift is from above, 
and cometh down from the Father of 
lights, with whom is no variableness, neither 
shadow of turning. 

b 1 Kings viii. 27. But will God indeed 
dwell on the earth ? Behold, the heaven, 
and heaven of heavens, cannot contain thee; 
how much less this house that I have 
builded ! 

c Ps. cxxxix. 1-13. Lord, thou hast 
searched me, and known me. Thou know- 
est my down-sitting and mine up-rising : 
thou understandest my thought afar off, 
&c. Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? 
or whither shall I flee from thy presence ? 
etc. 



d Kev. iv. 8. And the four beasts had 
each of them six wings about him ; and 
they were full of eyes within : and they 
rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, 
holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and 
is, and is to come. 

e Heb. iv. 13. Neither is there any crea- 
ture that is not manifest in his sight : but 
all things are naked and opened unto the eyes 
of him with whom we have to do. Ps. 
cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and of great 
power : his understanding is infinite. 

f Eom. xvi. 27. To God only wise, be 
glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. 

s Isa. vi. 3. And one cried unto another, 
and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of 
hosts : the whole earth is full of his glory. 
Kev. xv. 4. Who shall not fear thee, 
Lord, and glorify thy name ? for thou only 
art holy: for all nations shall come and 
worship before thee ; for thy judgments 
are made manifest. 

h Deut. xxxii. 4. He is the Bock, his 
work is perfect ; for all his ways are judg- 
ment: a God of truth, and without ini- 
quity ; fust and right is he. 

1 Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord passed 
by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, 
the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long- 
suffering, and abundant in goodness and 
truth. 

8. k Deut. vi. 4. Hear, Israel ; The 
Lord our God is one Lord. 1 Cor. viii. 4. 
As concerning therefore the eating of those 
things that are offered in sacrifice unto 
idols, we know that an idol is nothing in 
the world, and that there is none other God 
but one. Ver. 6. But to us there is but 
one God, the Father, of whom are all 
things, and we in him ; and one Lord Jesus 
Christ, by whom are all things, and we by 
him. Jer. x. 10. But the Lord is the true 
God, he is the living God, and an everlast- 
ing King : at his wrath the earth shall 
tremble, and the nations shall not be able 
to abide his indignation. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 133 

eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and 
glory; although distinguished by their personal properties. 1 

Q. 10. What are the personal properties of the three persons 
in the Godhead? 

A. It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, m and to 
the Son to be begotten of the Father, 11 and to the Holy 
Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all 
eternity. 

Q. 11. How doth it appear that the Son and the Holy 
Ghost are God equal with the Father ? 

A. The scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy 
Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them 
such names, p attributes, q works/ and worship, 3 as are proper 
to God only. 



9. l l Johnv. 7. For there ars three that 
bear record in heaven, the Father, the 
Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three 
are one. Matt. iii. 16. And Jesus, when 
he was baptized, went up straightway out 
of the water : and, lo, the heavens were 
opened unto him, and he savv the Spirit of 
God descending like a dove, and lighting 
upon him : Ver. 17. And lo a voice from 
heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in 
whom I am well pleased. Matt, xxviii. 19. 
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
2 Cor. xiii. 14. The grace of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the 
communion of the Holy Ghost, be with 
you all. Amen. John x. 30. / and my 
Father are one. 

10. m Heb. i. 5. For unto which of the 
angels said he at any time, Thou art my 
Son, this day have I begotten thee? And 
again, I will be to him a Father, and he 
shall be to me a Son ? Ver. 6. And again, 
when he bringeth in the first-begotten into 
the world, he saith, And let all the angels 
of God worship him. Ver. 8. But unto 
the Son he saith, Thy throne, God, is 
for ever and ever ; a sceptre of righteous- 
ness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 

n John i. 14. And the Word was made 
flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld 
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten 
of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 
Ver. 18. No man hath seen God at any 
time; the only begotten Son, which is in 
the bosom of the Father, he hath declared 
him. 

°John xv. 26. But when the Comforter 



is come, whom I will send unto you from 
the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which 
proceedeth from the Father, he shall tes- 
tify of me. Gal. iv. 6. And because ye 
are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of 
his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, 
Father. 

11. p Isa. vi. 3. And one cried unto 
another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the 
Lord of hosts : the whole earth is full of his 
glory. Ver. 5. Then said I, Woe is me ! 
for I am undone ; because I am a man of 
unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a 
people of unclean lips : for mine eyes have 
seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Ver. 8. 
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 
Whom shall I send, and who will go for 
us ? Then said I, Here am I ; send me. 
Compared with John xii. 41. These things 
said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and 
spake of him. And with Acts xxviii. 25. 
And when they agreed not among them- 
selves, they departed, after that Paul had 
spoken one word, Well spake the Holy 
Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fa- 
thers. 1 John v. 20. And we know that 
the Son of God is come, and hath given us 
an understanding, that we may know him 
that is true ; and we are in him that is 
true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This 
is the true God, and eternal life. Acts v. 3. 
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan 
filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, 
and to keep back part of the price of the 
land ? Ver. 4. Whiles it remained, was 
it not thine own ? and after it was sold, 
was it not in thine own power ? why hast 
thou conceived this thing in thine heart ? 
thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God*. 



134 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 12, What are the decrees of God? 

A. Grod's decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the 
counsel of his will,' whereby, from all eternity, he hath, for 
his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes 
to pass in time/ especially concerning angels and men. 

Q, 13. What hath God especially decreed concerning angels 
and men ? 

A. God, by an eternal and immutable decree, out of his 
mere love, for the praise of his glorious grace, to be mani- 
fested in due time, hath elected some angels to glory ; w and 
in Christ hath chosen some men to eternal life, and the 
means thereof : x and also, according to his sovereign power, 
and the unsearchable counsel of his own will, (whereby he 
extendeth or withholdeth favour as he pleaseth,) hath passed 



ijohn i. 1. In the beginning was the 
Word, and the Word was with God, and 
the Word was God. Isa. ix. 6. For unto 
us a child is born, unto us a son is given ; 
and the government shall be upon his 
shoulder : and his name shall be called 
Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, 
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 
John ii. 24. But Jesus did not commit 
himself unto them, because he knew all 
men. Ver. 25. And needed not that any 
should testify of man : for he knew what 
was in man. 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God hath 
revealed them unto us by his Spirit : for 
the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep 
things of God. Ver. 11. For what man 
knoweth the things of a man, save the 
spirit of man which is in him ? even so 
the things of God knoweth no man, but the 
Spirit of God. 

r Col. i. 16. For by him were all things 
created that are in heaven, and that are in 
earth, visible and invisible, whether they 
be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, 
or powers ; all things were created by him, 
and for him. Gen. i. 2. And the earth 
was without form, and void; and dark- 
ness was upon the face of the deep : and 
the Spirit of God moved upon the face of 
the waters. 

s Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost. 2 Cor. xiii. 14. The 
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
love of God, and the communion of the Holy 
Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 

12. 4 Eph. i. 11. In whom also we hare 
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated 
according to the purpose of him whoworketh 



all things after the counsel of his own will. 
Rom. xi. 33. the depth of the riches 
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God ! 
how unsearchable are his judgments, and his 
ways past finding out ! Rom. ix. 14. What 
shall we say then ? Is there unrighteous- 
ness with God ? God forbid. Ver. 15. 
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy 
on whom I will have mercy, and I will have 
compassion on whom / will have compas- 
sion. Ver. 18. Therefore hat h he mercy on 
whom he will have mercy, and whom he will 
he hardeneth. 

v Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen 
us in him before the foundation of the world, 
that we should be holy and without blame 
before him in love. Ver. 11. In whom 
also we have obtained an inheritance, being 
predestinated according to the purpose of 
him who worketh all things after the 
counsel of his own will. Rom. ix. 22. 
What if God, willing to shew his wrath, 
and to make his power known, endured 
with much long-suffering the vessels of 
wrath fitted to destruction ; Ver. 23. And 
that he might make known the riches of his 
glory on the vessels of mercy, which he 
had afore prepared unto glory ? Ps. 
xxxiii. 11. The counsel of the Lord s tandeth 
for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all 
generations. 

13. *1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee be- 
fore God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
the elect angels, that thou observe these 
things, without preferring one before 
another, doing nothing by partiality. 

x Eph. i. 4. According as he hath chosen 
us in him before the foundation of the 
world, that we should be holy and without 
blame before him in love : Ver. 5. Having 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 135 

by and foreordained the rest to dishonour and wrath, to 
be for their sin inflicted, to the praise of the glory of his 
justice/ 

Q. 14. How doth God execute Ms decrees? 

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation 
and providence, according to his infallible foreknowledge, 
and the free and immutable counsel of his own will. 2 

Q. 1 5. What is the work of creation ? 

A. The work of creation is that wherein God did in the 
beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the 
world, and ail things therein, for himself, within the space 
of six days, and all very good. a 

Q. 16, How did God create angels? 

A. God created all the angels b spirits, immortal/ holy, e 



predestinated us unto the adoption of chil- 
[ dren by Jesus Christ to himself, according 
to the good pleasure of his will, Ver. 6. 
To the praise of the glory of his grace, 
wherein he hath made us accepted in the 
Beloved. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are 
bound to give thanks alway to God for 
you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because 
God hath from the beginning chosen you to 
salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, 
and belief of the truth: Ver. 14. Where- 
unto he called you by our gospel, to the 
obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

yKom. ix. 17. For the scripture saith 
unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose 
have I raised thee up, that / might shew 
my power in thee, and that my name might 
be declared throughout all the earth. Ver. 
18. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he 
will have mercy, and whom he will he 
hardeneth. Ver. 21. Hath not the potter 
power over the clay, of the same lump to 
make one vessel unto honour, and another 
unto dishonour ? Ver. 22. What if God, 
willing to shew his wrath, and to make his 
power known, endured with much long- 
suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to de- 
struction? Matt. xi. 25. At that time 
Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, 
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because 
thou hast hid these things from the wise and 
prudent, and hast revealed them unto 
babes. Ver. 26. Even so, Father : for so 
it seemed good in thy sight. 2 Tim. ii. 20. 
But in a great house there are not only 
vessels of gold and of silver, but also of 
wood and of earth ; and some to honour, 
and some to dishonour. Jude, Ver. 4. For 



there are certain men crept in unawares, 
who were before of old ordained to this con- 
demnation, ungodly men, turning the grace 
of our God into lasciviousness, and denying 
the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 1 Pet. ii. 8. And a stone of stumb- 
ling, and a rock of offence, even to them 
which stumble at the word, being dis- 
obedient ; whereunto also they were ap- 
pointed. 

14. z Eph. i. 11. In whom also we have 
obtained an inheritance, being predestin- 
ated according to the purpose of him who 
worketh all things after tlie counsel of his 
own will. 

15. a [Gen. Chapter i.] Heb. xi. 8. 
Through faith we understand that the 
worlds were framed by the word of God ; 
so that things which are seen were not 
made of things which do appear. Prov. 
xvi. 4. The Lord hath made all things for 
himself ; yea, even the wicked for the day 
of evil. 

16. to Col. i. 16. For by him were all 
things created that are in heaven, and that 
are in earth, visible and invisible, whether 
they be thrones, or dominions, or princi- 
palities, or powers ; all things were created 
by him, and for him. 

c Ps. civ. 4. Who maketh his angels 
spirits; his ministers a flaming Are. 

d Matt. xxii. 30. For in the resurrection 
they neither marry, nor are given in 
marriage, but are as the angels of God in 
heaven. 

e Matt. xxv. 31. When the Son of man 
shall come in his glory, and all the holy 
angels with him, then shall he sit upon the 
throne of his glory. 



1.36 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



excelling in knowledge/ mighty in power/ to execute his 
commandments, and to praise his name/ yet subject to 
change. 1 

Q. 17. How did God create man? 

A. After God had made all other creatures, he created 
man male and female/ formed the body of the man of the 
dust of the ground/ and the woman of the rib of the man, m 
endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls; 11 
made them after his own image, in knowledge/ righteous- 
ness, and holiness/ having the law of God written in their 
hearts/ and power to fulfil it, s and dominion over the crea- 
tures/ yet subject to fall. v 

f 2 Sam. xiv. 17. Then thine handmaid are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear 

said, The word of my lord the king shall him which is able to destroy both soul and 

now be comfortable : for as an angel of body in hell. And with Luke xxiii. 43. 

God, so is my lord the king, to discern good And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say 

and bad; therefore the Lord thy God will unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in 

be with thee. Matt. xxiv. 36. But of that paradise. 

day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the <>Gen. j. 27. So God created man in his 

angels of heaven, but my Father only. own image : in the image of God created he 

s 2 Thess. i. 7. And to you who are him; male and female created he them, 

troubled rest with us, when the Lord p Col. iii. 10. And have put on the new 

Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with man, which is renewed in knowledge after 

his mighty angels. the image of him that created him. 

Ps. ciii. 20. Bless the Lord, ye his an- q Eph. iv. 24. And that ye put on the 

gels, that excel in strength, that do his com- new man, which after God is created in 

mandments, hearkening unto the voice of righteousness and true holiness. 

his word. Ver. 21. Bless ye the Lord, all r Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gentiles, 

ye his hosts ; ye ministers of his, that do which have not the law, do by nature the 

his pleasure. things contained in the law, these, having 

i 2 Pet. ii. 4. For if God spared not the not the law, are a law unto themselves : 

angels that sinned, but cast them down to Ver. 15. Which shew the work of the law 

hell, and delivered them into chains of written in their hearts, their conscience also 

darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. bearing witness, and their thoughts the 

17. * Gen. i. 27. So God created man mean while accusing or else excusing one 

in his own image : in the image of God another. 

created he him; male and female created 8 Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I 

he them. found, that God hath made man upright; 

'Genii. 7. And the Lord God formed but they have sought out many inventions. 

man of the dust of the ground, and breathed * Gen. i. 28. And God blessed them : 

into his nostrils the breath of life. and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and 

n»Gen. ii. 22. And the rib, which the multiply, and replenish the earth, and 

Lord God had taken from man, made he a subdue it ; and have dominion over the fish 

woman, and brought her unto the man. of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, 

D Gen. ii. 7. And the Lord God formed and over every living thing that moveth 

man of the dust of the ground, and breathed upon the earth. 

into his nostrils the breath of life; and man v Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman saw 

became a living soul. Compared with Job that the tree was good for food, and that 

xxxv. 11. Who teacheth us more than the it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to 

beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than be desired to make one wise, she took of the 

the fowls of heaven. And with Eccl. xii. fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also 

7. Then shall the dust return to the earth as unto her husband with her, and he did eat, 

it was; and the spirit shall return unto Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only have I found, 

God who gave it. And with Matt. x. 28. that God hath made man upright; but 

And fear not them which kill the body, but they have sought out many inventions. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



137 



Q. 18. What are God's works of providence ? 

A. God's works of providence are his most holy/ wise, x 
and powerful preserving? and governing 3 all his creatures ; 
ordering them, and all their actions, 3, to his own glory . b 

Q. 19. What is God's providence towards the angels ? 

A. God by his providence permitted some of the angels, 
wilfully and irrecoverably, to fall into sin and damnation, 
limiting and ordering that, and all their sins, to his own 
glory ; d and established the rest in holiness and happiness; 6 
employing them all/ at his pleasure, in the administrations 
of his power, mercy, and justice^ 

Q. 20. What was the providence of God toward man in 
the estate in which he was created? 

A. The providence of God toward man in the estate in 



18. w Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righte- 
ous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 

x Ps. civ. 24. Lord, how manifold are 
thy works ! in wisdom hast thou made them 
all : the earth is full of thy riches. Isa. 
xxviii. 29. This also cometh forth from 
the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in 
counsel, and excellent in working. 

y Heb. i. 3. Who, being the brightness 
of his glory, and the express image of his 
person, and upholding all things by the 
word of his power, when he had by himself 
purged our sins, sat down on the right 
hand of the Majesty on high. 

z Ps. ciii. 19. The Lord hath prepared 
his throne in the heavens ; and his king- 
dom ruleth over all. 

a Matt. x. 29. Are not two sparrows sold 
for a farthing ? and one of them shall not 
fall on the ground without your Father. Ver. 
30. But the very hairs of your head are all 
numbered. Ver. 31. Fear ye not, there- 
fore, ye are of more value than many 
sparrows. Gen. xlv. 7. And God sent me 
before you to preserve you a posterity in 
the earth, and to save your lives by a great 
deliverance, 

b Kom. xi. 36. For of him, and through 
him, and to him, are all things: to whom 
be glory for ever. Amen. Isa. lxiii. 14. 
As a beast goeth down into the valley, the 
Spirit of the Lord caused him to rest ; so 
didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself 
a glorious name. 

19. c Jude, Ver. 6. And the angels which 
kept not their first estate, but left their own 
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting 
chains, under darkness, unto the judgment 
of the great day. 2 Pet. ii. 4. For if God 
spared not the angels that sinned, but cast 



them down to hell, and delivered them into 
chains of darkness, to be reserved unto 
judgment. Heb. ii. 16. For verily he took 
not on him the nature of angels; but he took 
on him the seed of Abraham. John viii. 
44. Ye are of your father the devil, and 
the lusts of your father ye will do : he was 
a murderer from the beginning, and abode not 
in the truth, because there is no truth in 
him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh 
of his own : for he is a liar, and the father 
of it. 

d Job i. 12. And the Lord said unto 
Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy 
power ; only upon himself put not forth 
thine hand. So Satan went forth from the 
presence of the Lord. Matt. viii. 31. So 
the devils besought him, saying, If thou 
cast us out, suffer us to go away into the 
herd of swine. 

e 1 Tim. v. 21. I charge thee before God, 
and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect 
angels, that thou observe these things, 
without preferring one before another, 
doing nothing by partiality. Mark viii. 
38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed 
of me, and of my words, in this adulterous 
and sinful generation, of him also shall the 
Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh 
in the glory of his Father, with the holy 
angels. Heb. xii. 22. But ye are come 
unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the 
living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and 
to an innumerable company of angels. 

f Ps. civ. 4. Who makeih his angels 
spirits; his ministers a flaming fire. 

s 2 Kings xix. 35. And it came to pass 
that night, that the angel of the Lord went 
out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians 
an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and 



133 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



which he was created, was the placing him in paradise, 
appointing him to dress it, giving him liberty to eat of the 
fruit of the earth; 11 putting the creatures under his do- 
minion/ and ordaining marriage for his help; k affording 
him communion with himself ;* instituting the Sabbath ; m 
entering into a covenant of life with him, upon condition 
of personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience, 11 of which the 
tree of life was a pledge ;° and forbidding to eat of the tree 
of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death. p 

Q. 21. Did man continue in that estate wherein God at 
first created him ? 

A. Our first parents being left to the freedom of their 
own will, through the temptation of Satan, transgressed 
the commandment of God in eating the forbidden fruit; 
and thereby fell from the estate of innocency wherein they 
were created. q 



■when they arose early in the morning, he- 
hold, they were all dead corpses. Heh. 
i. 14. Are they not all ministering spirits, 
sent forth to minister for them tvho shall be 
heirs of salvation ? 

20. h Gen. ii. 8. And the Lord God 
planted a garden eastward in Eden ; and 
there he put the man whom he had formed. 
Ver. 15. And the Lord God took the man, 
and put him into the garden of Eden, to 
dress if, and to keep it. Ver. 16. And the 
Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of 
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely 
eat. 

1 Gen. i. 28. And God blessed them : 
and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and 
multiply, and replenish the earth, and 
subdue it ; and have dominion over the 
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the 
air, and over every living thing that 
moveth upon the earth. 

k Gen. ii. 18. And the Lord God said, It 
is not good that the man should be alone ; 
I will make him an help meet for him. 

1 Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us make 
man in our image, after our likeness; and 
let them have dominion over the fish of 
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and 
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and 
over every creeping thing that creepeth 
upon the earth. Ver. 27. So God created 
man in his own image : in the image of God 
created he him ; male and female created 
he them. Ver. 28. And God blessed them : 
and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and 
multiply, and replenish the earth, and sub- 
due it ; and have dominion over the fish 



of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, 
and over every living thing that moveth 
upon the earth. Ver. 29. And God said, 
Behold, 1 have given you every herb bear- 
ing seed, which is upon the face of all the 
earth, and every tree, in the which is the 
fruit of a tree yielding seed ; to you it 
shall be for meat. Gen. iii. 8. And they 
heard the voice of the Lord God walking in 
the garden in the cool of the day : and 
Adam and his wife hid themselves from 
the presence of tlxe Lord God amongst the 
trees of the garden. 

m Gen. ii. 3. And God blessed the seventh 
day, and sanctified it ; because that in it 
he had rested from all his work which God 
had created and made. 

n Gal. iii. 12. And the law is not of 
faith : but, The man that doeth them shall 
live in them. Rom. x. 5. For Moses de- 
scribeth the righteousness which is of the 
law, That the man which doeth those things 
shall live by them. 

Gen. ii. 9. And out of the ground 
made the Lord God to grow every tree 
that is pleasant to the sight, and good for 
food ; the tree of life also in the midst of 
the garden, and the tree of knowledge of 
good and evil. 

p Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the know- 
ledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of 
it : for in the day that thou eatest thereof 
thou shall surely die. 

21. <i Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman 
saw that the tree was good for food, and 
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a 
tree to be desired to make one wise, she 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



139 



Q. 22. Did all mankind fall in that first transgression ? 

A. The covenant being made with Adam as a publick 
person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all 
mankind descending from him by ordinary generation/ 
sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgres- 
sion. 8 

Q. 23. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? * 
A. The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and 
misery.* 

Q. 24. What is sin ? 

A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgres- 
sion of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable 
creature/ 

Q. 25. Wherein consisteth the sinfulness of that estate 
whereinto man fell? 

A, The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, 
consisteth in the guilt of Adam's first sin, w the want of 
that righteousness wherein he was created, and the cor- 



took of the fruit thereof and did eat ; and 
gave also unto her husband with her, and 
he did eat. Ver. 7. And the eyes of them 
both were opened, and they knew that they 
were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves to- 
gether, and made themselves aprons. Ver. 
8. And they heard the voice of the Lord 
God walking in the garden in the cool of 
the day : and Adam and his wife hid them- 
selves from the presence of the Lord God 
amongst the trees of the garden. Ver. 13. 
And the Lord God said unto the woman, 
What is this that thou hast done ? And 
the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, 
and I did eat. Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only 
have I found, that God made man upright ; 
but they have sought out many inventions. 
2 Cor. xi. 3. But I fear, lest by any 
means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through 
his subtilty, so your minds should be 
corrupted from the simplicity that is in 
Christ. 

22. r Acts xvii. 26. And hath made of 
one blood all nations of men for to dwell on 
all the face of the earth, and hath deter- 
mined the times before appointed, and the 
bounds of their habitation. 

8 Gen. ii. 16. And the Lord God com- 
manded the man, saying, Of every tree of 
the garden thou mayst freely eat ; Ver. 17. 
But of the tree of the knowledge of good 
and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in 
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt 
surely die. Compared with Rom. v. 12-20. 



Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into 
the world, and death by sin; and so death 
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. 
Ver. 15. For if through the offence of one 
many be dead; much more — Ver. 16. For 
the judgment was by one to condemnation 
— Ver. 17. For if by one man's offence 
death reigned by one ; much more — Ver. 18. 
Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment 
came upon all men to condemnation ; even 
so — Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedi- 
ence many were made sinners; so by the 
obedience — And with 1 Cor. xv. 21. 
For since by man came death, by man came 
also the resurrection of the dead. Ver. 
22. For as in Adam all die, even so in 
Christ shall all be made alive. 

23. * Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one 
man sin entered into the world, and death 
by sin: and so death passed upon all men, 
for that all have sinned. Rom. iii. 23. 
For all have sinned, and come short of the 
glory of God. 

24. v 1 John iii. 4. Whosoever com- 
mitteth sin transgresseth also the law : for 
sin is the transgression of the law. Gal. iii. 
10. For as many as are of the works of 
the law are under the curse : for it is 
written, Cursed is every one that continueth 
not in all things which are written in the 
book of the law to do them. Ver. 12. And 
the law is not of faith : but, The man that 
doeth them shall live in them. 

25. w Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one 



140 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



ruptlon of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, 
disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually 
good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually ; x 
which is commonly called Original Sin, and from which do 
proceed all actual transgressions/ 

Q. 26. How is original sin conveyed from our first parents 
unto their posterity ? 

A. Original sin is conveyed from our first parents 
unto their posterity by natural generation, so as all that 
proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in 
sin. z 

Q. 27. What misery did the fall bring upon mankind? 
A. The fall brought upon mankind the loss of com- 
munion with God, a his displeasure and curse ; so as we are 



man sin entered into the world, and death 
by sin ; and so death passed upon all men, 
for that all have sinned. Ver. 19. For as 
by one man's disobedience many were made 
sinners ; so by the obedience of one shall 
many be made righteous. 

x Rom. iii. 10. As it is written, There 
is none righteous, no, not one: Ver. 11. 
There is none that understandeth, there is 
none that seeketh after God. Ver. 12. They 
are all gone out of the way, they are to- 
gether become unprofitable; there is none 
that doeth good, no, not one. Ver. 13. 
Their throat is an open sepulchre: with 
their tongues they have used deceit: the 
poison of asps is under their lips: Ver. 
14. Whose mouth is full of cursing and 
bitterness: Ver. 15. Their feet are swift 
to shed blood: Ver. 16. Destruction and 
misery are in their ways ; Ver. 17. And 
the way of peace have they not knoivn: 
Ver. 18. There is no fear of God before 
their eyes. Ver. 19. Now we know, that 
what things soever the law saith, it saith 
to them who are under the law ; that 
every mouth may be stopped, and all the 
world may become guilty before God. Eph. 
ii. 1 And you hath he quickened, who 
were dead in trespasses and sins; Ver. 2. 
Wherein in time past ye walked according 
to the course of this world, according to the 
prince of the power of the air, the spirit 
that now worketh in the children of dis- 
obedience : Ver. 3. Among whom also we 
all had our conversation in times past in 
the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires 
of the flesh and of the mind; and were by 
nature the children of wrath, even as others. 
Rom. v. 6. For when we were yet without 
strength, in due time Christ died for the 



ungodly. Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal 
mind is enmity against God: for it is not 
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can 
be. Ver. 8. So then they that are in the 
flesh cannot please God. Gen. vi. 5. And 
God saw that the wickedness of man was 
great in the earth, and that every imagina- 
tion of the thoughts of his heart was only evil 
continually. 

y James i. 14. But every man is tempted, 
when he is drawn away of his own lust, 
and enticed. Ver. 15. Then, when lust 
hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and 
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth 
death. Matt. xv. 19. For out of the heart 
proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, 
fornications, thefts, false witness, blas- 
phemies. 

26. z Ps. li. 5. Behold, I was shapen in 
iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive 
me. Job xiv. 4. Who can bring a clean 
thing out of an unclean? not one. Job 
xv. 14. What is man, that he should be 
clean ? and he which is born of a woman, 
that he should be righteous ? John iii. 6. 
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and 
that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

27. a Gen. iii. 8. And they heard the 
voice of the Lord God walking in the 
garden in the cool of the day : and Adam 
and his wife hid themselves from the pre- 
sence of the Lord God amongst the trees of 
the garden. Ver. 10. And he said, I 
heard thy voice in the garden, and / was 
afraid, because I was naked ; and I hid 
myself. Ver. 24. So he drove out the man: 
and he placed at the east of the garden of 
Eden cherubims, and a flaming sword 
which turned every way, to keep the way 
of the tree of life. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



141 



by nature children of wrath, b bond slaves to Satan/ and 
justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that 
which is to corned 

Q. 28. What are the punishments of sin in this world ? 

A. The punishments of sin in this world are either in- 
ward, as blindness of mind, 6 a reprobate sense/ strong delu- 
sions/ hardness of heart, h horror of conscience/ and vile 
affections ; k or outward, as the curse of G-od upon the crea- 
tures for our sakes, 1 and all other evils that befall us in our 
bodies, names, estates, relations, and employments; m together 
with death itself. 11 



b Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye 
walked according to the course of this 
■world, according to the prince of the 
power of the air, the spirit that now 
worketh in the children of disobedience : 
Ver. 3. Among whom also we all had our 
conversation in times past in the lusts of 
our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh 
and of the mind ; and were by nature the 
children ofivrath, even as others. 

c 2 Tim. ii. 26. And that they may 
recover themselves out of the snare of the 
devil, who are taken captive by him at his 
will. 

d Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of the 
knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt 
not eat of it : for in the day that thou 
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Lam. 
iii. 39. Wherefore doth a living man com- 
plain, a man /op the punishment of his sins ? 
Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin is death; 
but the gift of God is eternal life through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Matt, xxv. 41. 
Then shall he say also unto them on the 
left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into 
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and 
his angels. Ver. 46. And these shall go 
away into everlasting punishment : but the 
righteous into life eternal. Jude, Ver. 7. 
Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the 
cities about them, in like manner, giving 
themselves over to fornication, and going 
after strange flesh, are set forth for an 
example, suffering the vengeance of eternal 
fire. 

28. eEph. iv. 18. Having the under- 
standing darkened, being alienated from 
the life of God through the ignorance that is 
in them, because of the blindness of their 
heart. 

f Horn. i. 28. Even as they did not like 
to retain God in their knowledge, God 
gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do 
those things which are not convenient. 



8 2 Thess. ii. 11. And for this cause 
God shall send them strong delusion, that 
they should believe a lie. 

h Eom. ii. 5. But, after thy hardness and 
impenitent heart, treasurest up unto thyself 
wrath against the day of wrath and reve- 
lation of the righteous judgment of God. 

ilsa. xxxiii. 14. The sinners in Zion are 
afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypo- 
crites : who among us shall dwell with the 
devouring fire ? who among us shall dwell 
with everlasting burnings? Gen. iv. 13. 
And Cain said unto the Lord, My punish- 
ment is greater than I can bear. Matt, 
xxvii. 4. Saying, I have sinned, in that I 
have betrayed the innocent blood. And they 
said, What is that to us ? see thou to that. 

k Rom. i. 26. For this cause God gave 
them up unto vile affections : for even their 
women did change the natural use into 
that which is against nature. 

J Gen. iii. 17. And unto Adam he said, 
Because thou hast hearkened unto the 
voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the 
tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, 
Thou shalt not eat of it : cursed is the 
ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou 
eat of it all the days of thy life. 

m Deut. xxviii. 15. to the end. But it 
shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hear- 
ken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, 
to observe to do all his commandments and 
his statutes, which I command thee this 
day, that all these curses shall come upon 
thee, and overtake thee. Ver. 16. Cursed 
shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt 
thou be in the field. Yer. 17. Cursed 
shall be thy basket and thy store. Yer. 18. 
Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and 
the fruit of thy land, etc. 

n B,om. vi. 21. What fruit had ye then 
in those things whereof ye are now 
ashamed ? for the end of those things is 
death. Ver. 23. For the wages of sin is 



142 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 29. What are the punishments of sin in the world to 
come ? 

A. The punishments of sin in the world to come, are ever- 
lasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and 
most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermis- 
sion, in hell-fire for ever. 

Q. 30. Doth God leave all mankind to perish in the estate 
of sin and misery ? 

A. God doth not leave all men to perish in the estate of 
sin and misery/ into which they fell by the breach of the 
first covenant, commonly called the Covenant of "Works ; q 
but of his mere love and mercy delivereth his elect out of it, 
and bringeth them into an estate of salvation by the second 
covenant, commonly called the Covenant of Grace/ 

Q. 31. With whom was the covenant of grace made? 

A. The covenant of grace was made with Christ as the 
second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seed. 8 

Q. 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second 
covenant ? 

A. The grace of God is manifested in the second cove- 
nant, in that he freely provideth and offereth to sinners a 



death; but the gift of God is eternal life 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

29. ° 2 Thess. i. 9. Who shall be pun- 
ished with everlasting destruction from the 
presence of the Lord, and from the glory of 

his power. Mark ix. 43, 44, 46, 48 

To go into hell, — Where their worm dieth 
not, and the fire is not quenched. Luke 
xvi. 24. And he cried, and said, Father 
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send 
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his 
finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for 
I am tormented in this flame. 

30. p 1 Thess. v. 9. For God hath not 
appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salva- 
tion by our Lord Jesus Christ. 

q Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of the 
works of the law are under the curse: for it 
is written, Cursed is every one that continueth 
not in all things which are written in the 
bjook of the law to do them. Ver. 12. And 
the law is not of faith : but, The man that 
doeth them shall live in them. 

r Tit. iii. 4. But after that the kindness 
and love of God our Saviour toward man 
appeared. Ver. 5. Not by works of righte- 
ousness which we have done, but according 
to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of 
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 



Ghost; Ver. 6. Which he shed on us 
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Sa- 
viour ; Ver. 7. That, being Justified by his 
grace, we should be made heirs according to 
the hope of eternal life. Gal. iii. 21. Is the 
law then against the promises of God ? God 
forbid : for if there had been a law given 
which could have given life, verily righte- 
ousness should have been by the law. 
Eom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of t 
law there shall no flesh be justified in h 
sight : for by the law is the knowledge 
sin. Ver. 21. But now the righteousnes 
of God without the law is manifested, being 
witnessed by the law and the prophets 
Ver. 22. Even the righteousness of Go 
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto 
and upon all them that believe; for there is 
no difference. 

31. 8 Gal. iii. 16. Now to Abraham and 
his seed were the promises made. He saith 
not, And to seeds, as of many ; but as of 
one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 
[Rom. v. 15. to the end.] Isa. liii. 10. 
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him ; he 
hath put him to grief: when thou shalt 
make his soul an offering for sin, he shall 
see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and 
the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



143 



Mediator/ and life and salvation by him; v and requiring faith 
as the condition to interest them in him/ promiseth and 
giveth his Holy Spirit* to all his elect, to work in them that 
faith/ with all other saving graces; z and to enable them unto 
all holy obedience/ as the evidence of the truth of their 
faith b and thankfulness to God/ and as the way which he 
hath appointed them to salvation. d 

Q. 33. Was the covenant of grace always administered after 
one and the same manner ? 

A. The covenant of grace was not always administered 
after the same manner, but the administrations of it under 
the Old Testament were different from those under the E"ew. e 

Q. 34. How was the covenant of grace administered under 
the Old Testament ? 

A. The covenant of grace was administered under the 



his hand. Ver. 11. He shall see of the 
travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied : 
by his knowledge shall my righteous ser- 
vant justify many; for he shall bear their 
iniquities. 

32. * Gen. iii. 15. And I will put enmity 
between thee and the woman, and between 
thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy 
head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Isa. 
xlii. 6. I the Lord have called thee in 
righteousness, and will hold thine hand, 
and will keep thee, and will give thee for a 
covenant of the people, for a light of the 
Gentiles. John vi. 27. Labour not for the 
meat which perisheth, but for that meat 
which endureth unto everlasting life, which 
the Son of man shall give unto you : for 
him hath God the Father sealed. 

v l John v. 11. And this is the record, 
that God hath given to us eternal life ; and 
this life is in his Son. Ver. 12. He that 
hath the Son hath life ; and he that hath 
not the Son of God hath not life. 

w John iii. 16. For God so loved the 
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 
that whosoever believeth in him should 
not perish, but have everlasting life. John 
i. 12. But as many as received him, to 
them gave he power to become the sons of 
God, even to them that believe on his 
name. 

x Prov. i. 23. Behold, 1 mil pour out 
my Spirit unto you, 1 will make known my 
words unto you. 

y 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the same spirit 
of faith, according ' as it is written, I be- 
lieved, and therefore have I spoken; we 
also believe, and therefore speak. 



z Gal. v. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is 
love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, 
goodness, faith, Ver. 23. Meekness, tem- 
perance : against such there is no law. 

a Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my 
Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in 
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, 
and do them. 

b James ii. 18. Yea, a man may say, 
Thou hast faith, and I have works ; shew 
me thy faith without thy works, and I 
will shew thee my faith by my works. Ver. 
22. Seest thou how faith wrought with 
his works, and by works was faith made 
perfect ? 

c 2 Cor. v. 14. For the love of Christ con- 
straineth us; because we thus judge, that if 
one died for all, then were all dead : 
Ver. 15. And that he died for all, that 
they which live should not henceforth live 
unto themselves, but unto him which died for 
them, and rose again. 

d Eph. ii. 18. For we are his workman- 
ship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, 
which God hath before ordained that ice 
should walk in them. 

33. e 2 Cor. iii. 6. Who also hath made 
us able ministers of the new testament; net 
of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter 
killeth, but the spirit giveth life. Ver. 7. 
But if the ministration of death, written 
and engraven in stones, was glorious, 1 so 
that the children of Israel could not sted- 
fastly behold the face of Moses for the 
glory of his countenance ; which glory was 
to be done away : Ver. 8. How shall not 
the ministration of the Spirit be rather 
glorious ? Ver. 9. For if the ministration of 



14 4 THE LARGER CATECHISM. 

Old Testament, by promises/ prophecies/ sacrifices, 11 circum- 
cision, 1 the passover, k and other types and ordinances, which 
did all fore-signify Christ then to come, and were for that 
time sufficient to build up the elect in faith in the promised 
Messiah/ by whom they then had full remission of sin, and 
eternal salvation. m 

Q. 35. How is the covenant of grace administered under the 
New Testament? 

A, Under the New Testament, when Christ the substance 
was exhibited, the same covenant of grace was and still is to 
be administered in the preaching of the word, n and the ad- 
ministration of the sacraments of baptism ° and the Lord's 
supper ; p in which grace and salvation are held forth in more 
fulness, evidence, and efficacy, to all nations. q 

condemnation be glory, much more doth the fore the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In 
ministration of righteousness exceed in glory, thee shall all nations be blessed. Ver. 9. 

34. f Eom. xv. 8. Now I say, that Jesus So then they which be of faith are blessed 
Christ was a minister of the circumcision with faithful Abraham. Ver. 14. That the 
for the truth of God, to confirm the pro- blessing oj Abraham, might come on the Gen- 
mises made unto the fathers. tiles through Jesus Christ; that we might 

s Acts iii. 20. And he shall send Jesus receive the promise of the Spirit through 
Christ, which before was preached unto faith. 
you. Ver. 24. Yea, and all the prophets 
from Samuel, and those that follow after, 
as many as have spoken, have likewise fore- 
told of these days. 

h Heb. x. 1 . For the law having a sha- 
dow of good things to come, and not the very 
image of the things, can never with those 
sacrifices, which they offered year by year 
continually, make the comers thereunto 
perfect. 

'Eom. iv. 11. And he received the sign 
of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of 
the faith which he had yet being uncir- 
cumcised : that he might be the father of 
all them that believe, though they be not 
circumcised ; that righteousness might be 
imputed unto them also. 

k 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the 
old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as 
ye are unleavened. For even Christ our 
passover is sacrificed for us. 

1 [Heb. Chapters viii. ix. and x.] Heb. xi. 
13. These all died in faith, not having received 
the promises, but having seen them afar off, 
and were persuaded of them, and embraced 
them, and confessed that they were stran- 
gers and pilgrims on the earth. 

m Gal. iii. 7. Know ye therefore, that 
they which are of faith, the same are the 
children of Abraham. Ver. 8. And the 
scripture, foreseeing that God would jus- 
tify the heathen through faith, preached be- 



35. n Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto 
them, Go ye into all the world, and preach 
the gospel to every creature. 

°Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost ; Ver. 20. Teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you : and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world. 
Amen. 

p 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of 
the Lord that which also I delivered unto 
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in 
which he was betrayed, took bread: Ver. 24. 
And, when he had given thanks, he brake 
it, and said, Take, eat ; this is my body, 
which is broken for you: this do in re- 
membrance of me. Ver. 25. After the 
same manner also he took the cup, when 
he had supped, saying, This cup is the new 
testament in my blood : this do ye, as often 
as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

* 2 Cor. iii. 6. to the end. Who also hath 
made us able ministers of the new testament; 
not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the 
letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 
Ver. 7. But if the ministration of death, 
written and engraven in stones was glori- 
ous, — Ver. 8. How shall not the ministra- 
tion of the Spirit be rather glorious ? Ver. 
9. For if the ministration of condemnation 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



145 



Q. 36. Who is the Mediator of the covenant of grace ? 

A. The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the 
Lord Jesus Christ/ who, being the eternal Son of God, of 
one substance and equal with the Father/ in the fulness of 
time became man/ and so was and continues to be God and 
man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, for ever/ 

Q. 37. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? 

A, Christ the Son of God became man, by taking to him- 
self a true body, and a reasonable soul/ being conceived by 
the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin 
Mary, of her substance, and born of her, x yet without sin.y 

Q. 38. Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be 
God? 

A. It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, 



be glory, much more doth the ministration 
of righteousness exceed in glory, etc. * Heb. 
viii. 6. But now hath he obtained a more 
excellent ministry, by how much also he is 
the mediator of a better covenant, which 
was established upon better promises. Ver. 
10. For this is the covenant that I will 
make with the house of Israel, after those 
days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws 
into their mind, and write them in their 
hearts; and I will be to them a God, and 
they shall be to me a people: Ver. 11. And 
they shall not teach every man his neigh- 
bour, and every man his brother, saying, 
Know the Lord : for all shall know me, 
from the least to the greatest. Matt, xxviii. 
19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of, etc. 

36. r l Tim. ii. 5. For there is one 
God, and one mediator between God and 
men, the man Christ Jesus. 

8 John i. 1. In the beginning was the 
Word, and the Word was with God, and 
the Word was God. Ver. 14. And the 
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among 
us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as 
of the only begotten of the Father,) full of 
grace and truth. John x. 30. / and my 
Father are one. Phil. ii. 6. Who, being 
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to 
be equal with God. 

* Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of the 
time was come, God sent forth his Son, 
made of a woman, made under the law. 

T Luke i. 35. And the angel answered 
and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall 
come upon thee, and the power of the 
Highest shall overshadow thee : therefore 
also that holy thing, which shall be born of 
thee, shall be called the Son of God. Kom. 



ix. 5. Whose are the fathers, and of 
whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, 
who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 
Col. ii. 9. For in him dwelleth all the fulness 
of the Godhead bodily. Heb. vii. 24. But 
this man, because he continueth ever, hath 
an unchangeable priesthood. Ver. 25. 
Wherefore he is able also to save them 
to the uttermost that come unto God 
by him, seeing he ever liveth to make inter- 
cession for them. 

37. w John i. 14. And the Word was 
made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we 
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only 
begotten of the Father,) full of grace and 
truth. Matt. xxvi. 38. Then saith he 
unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrow- 
ful, even unto death : tarry ye here, and 
watch with me. 

x Luke i. 27. To a virgin espoused to a 
man, whose name was Joseph, of the house 
of David; and the virgin's name was 
Mary. Ver. 31. And, behold, thou shalt 
conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a 
son, and shalt call his name JESUS. Ver. 
35. And the angel answered and said 
unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon 
thee, and the power of the Highest shall 
overshadow thee : therefore also that holy 
thing, which shall be born of thee, shall 
be called the Son of God. Ver. 42. And 
Elisabeth spake out with a loud voice, and 
said, Blessed art thou among women, and 
blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Gal. iv. 4. 
But when the fulness of the time was 
come, God sent forth his Son, made of a 
woman, made under the law. 

yHeb. iv. 15. For we have not an high 
priest which cannot be touched with the 
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all 



146 THE LARGER CATECHISM. 

that lie might sustain and keep the human nature from 
sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of 
death? give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, 
and intercession ; a and to satisfy God's justice/ procure his 
favour, purchase a peculiar people/ give his Spirit to them, 6 
conquer all their enemies/ and bring them to everlasting 
salvation. g 



points tempted like as we are, yet without 
sin. Heb. vii. 26. For such an high priest 
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, 
separate from sinners, and made higher 
than the heavens. 

38. z Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath 
raised up, having loosed the pains of death : 
because it was not possible that he should be 
holden of it. Ver. 25. For David speaketh 
concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always 
before my face; for he is on my right 
hand, that I should not be moved. Kom. 
i. 4. And declared to be the Son of God with 
power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by 
the resurrection from the dead. Compared 
with Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for 
our offences, and was raised again for our 
justification. Heb. ix. 14. How much 
more shall the blood of Christ, who through 
the eternal Spirit offered himself without 
spot to God, purge your conscience from 
dead works, to serve the living God ? 

a Acts xx. 28. Take heed therefore unto 
yourselves, and to all the flock, over the 
which the Holy Ghost hath made you 
overseers, to feed the church of God, which 
he hath purchased with his own blood. Heb. 
ix. 14. How much more shall the blood of 
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit of- 
fered himself without spot to God, purge 
your conscience from dead works, to serve 
the living God ? Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore 
he is able also to save them to the uttermost 
that come unto God by him, seeing he 
ever liveth to make intercession for them. 
Ver. 26. For such an high priest became us, 
who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate 
from sinners, and made higher than the 
heavens; Ver. 27. Who needeth not daily, 
as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, 
first for his own sins, and then for the 
people's: for this he did once, when he 
offered up himself. Ver. 28. For the law 
maketh men high priests which have in- 
firmity; but the word of the oath, which 
was since the law, maketh the Son, who is 
consecrated for evermore. 

b Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by 
his grace, through the redemption that is in 



Christ Jesus; Ver. 25. Whom God hath 
set forth to be & propitiation through faith 
in his blood, to declare his righteousness 
for the remission of sins that are past, 
through the forbearance of God ; Ver. 26. 
To declare, I say, at this time his righteous- 
ness; that he might be just, and the justi- 
fier of him which believeth in Jesus. 

c Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory of 
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted 
in the Beloved. Matt. iii. 17. And lo a 
voice from heaven, saying, This is my be- 
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

d Tit. ii. 13. Looking for that blessed 
hope, and the glorious appearing of the 
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; 
Ver. 14. Who gave himself for us, that he 
might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify 
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of 
good works. 

e Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, 
God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into 
your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

f Luke i. 68. Blessed be the Lord God 
of Israel ; for he hath visited and redeemed 
his people, Ver. 69. And hath raised up 
an horn of salvation for us in the house of 
his servant David. Ver. 71. That we 
should be saved from our enemies, and from 
the hand of all that hate us. Ver. 74. That 
he would grant unto us, that we, being de- 
livered out of the hand of our enemies, might 
serve him without fear. 

g Heb. v. 8. Though he were a Son, yet 
learned he obedience by the things which 
he suffered ; Ver. 9. And being made 
perfect, he became the author of eternal sal- 
vation unto all them that obey him. Heb. 
ix. 11. But Christ being come an high 
priest of good things to come, by a greater 
and more perfect tabernacle, not made 
with hands, that is to say, not of this 
building ; Ver. 12. Neither by the blood 
of goats and calves, but by his own blood, 
he entered in once into the holy place, 
having obtained eternal redemption for us. 
Ver. 13. For if the blood of bulls and of 
goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprink- 
ling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purify- 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



147 



Q. 39. Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be 
man ? 

A. It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that 
he might advance our nature, h perform obedience to the 
law/ suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, k have 
a fellow-feeling of our infirmities ; l that we might receive 
the adoption of sons, m and have comfort and access with 
boldness unto the throne of grace. 11 

Q. 40. Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be 
God and man in one person ? 

A. It was requisite that the Mediator, who was to recon- 
cile God and man, should himself be both God and man, 
and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature 
might be accepted of God for us, and relied on by us, as 
the works of the whole person. p 

Q. 41. Why was our Mediator called Jesus? 

A. Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he saveth his 
people from their sins. q 

Q. 42. Why was our Mediator called Christ ? 

A. Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was 



ing of the flesh ; Ver. 14. How much more 
shall the blood of Christ, who through the 
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot 
to God, purge your conscience from dead 
works, to serve the living God ? Ver. 15. 
And for this cause he is the mediator of 
the new testament, that by means of death, 
for the redemption of the transgressions 
that were under the first testament, they 
which are called might receive the promise 
of eternal inheritance. 

39. h Heb. ii. 16. For verily he took not 
on him the nature of angels ; but he took on 
him the seed of Abraham. 

'Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of 
the time was come, God sent forth his 
Son, made of a woman, made under the 
law. 

k Heb. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as the chil- 
dren are partakers of flesh and blood, he also 
himself likewise took part of the same; that 
through death he might destroy him that 
had the power of death, that is, the devil. 
Heb. vii 24. But this man, because he 
continueth ever, hath an unchangeable 
priesthood. Ver. 25. Wherefore he is 
able also to save them to the uttermost 
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever 
liveth to make intercession for them. 

^eb. iv. 15. For we have not an high 
priest which cannot be touched with the feel- 



ing of our infirmities; but was in all points 
tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

m Gal. iv. 5. To redeem them that were 
under the law, that we might receive the 
adoption of sons. 

n Heb. iv. 16. Let us therefore come 
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may 
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in 
time of need. 

40. °Matt. i. 21. And she shall bring 
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name 
JESUS ; for he shall save his people from 
their sins. Ver. 23. Behold, a virgin shall 
be with child, and shall bring forth a son, 
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, 
which, being interpreted, is, God with us. 
Matt. iii. 17. And lo a voice from heaven, 
saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I 
am well pleased. Heb. ix. 14. How much 
more shall the blood of Christ, who through 
the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot 
to God, purge your conscience from dead 
works, to serve the living God ? 

p 1 Pet. ii. 6. Wherefore also it is con- 
tained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion 
a chief corner-stone, elect, precious : and he 
that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 

41. <iMatt. i. 21. And she shall bring 
forth a son, and thou shalt call his name 
JESUS ; for he shall save his people from 
their sitis. 



143 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure ; r and so set 
apart, and fully furnished with all authority and ability/ to 
execute the offices of prophet/ priest/ and king of his church/ 
in the estate both of his humiliation and exaltation. 

Q. 43. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet ? 

A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his reveal- 
ing to the church/ in all ages, by his Spirit and word/ in 



42. 'John iii. 34. For he whom God 
hath sent speaketh the words of God : for 
God glveth not the Spirit by measure unto 
him. Ps. xlv. 7. Thou lovest righteous- 
ness, and hatest ■wickedness : therefore 
God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the 
oil of gladness above thy fellows. 

8 John vi. 27. Labour not for the meat 
■which perisheth, but for that meat which 
endureth unto everlasting life, which the 
Son of man shall give unto you : for him 
hath God the Father sealed. Matt, xxviii. 
18. And Jesus came and spake unto them, 
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven 
and in earth. Ver. 19. Go ye therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost ; Ver. 20. Teach, 
ing them to observe all things whatsoever 
I have commanded you: and, lo, I am 
with you alway, even unto the end of the 
world. Amen. 

* Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must 
receive until the times of restitution of all 
things, which God hath spoken by the 
mouth of all his holy prophets since the 
world began. Ver. 22. For Moses truly 
said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the 
Lord your God raise up unto you of your 
brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in 
all things whatsoever he shall say unto 
you. Luke iv. 18. The Spirit of the Lord 
is upon me, because he hath anointed me to 
preach the gospel to the poor ; he hath sent 
me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach 
deliverance to the captives, and recovering 
of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them 
that are bruised; Ver. 21. And he began 
to say unto them, This day is this scripture 
fulfilled in your ears. 

v Heb. v. 5. So also Christ glorified not 
himself to be made an high priest; but he 
that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to- 
day have I begotten thee. Ver. 6. As he 
saith also in another place, Thou art a 
priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. 
Ver. 7. Who in the days of his flesh, when 
he had offered up prayers and supplica- 
tions, with strong crying and tears, unto 
him that was able to saye him from death, 



and was heard in that he feared. Heb. 
iv. 14. Seeing then that we have a great 
high priest, that is passed into the heavens, 
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our 
profession. Ver. 1 5. For we have not an 
high priest which cannot be touched with 
the feeling of our infirmities; but was in 
all points tempted like as we are, yet 
without sin. 

w Ps. ii. 6. Yet have I set my King upon 
my holy hill of Zion. Matt. xxi. 5. Tell 
ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King 
cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an 
ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Isa. 
ix. 6. For unto us a child is born, unto us 
a son is given ; and the government shall be 
upon his shoulder: and his name shall be 
called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty 
God, The everlasting Father, The Prince 
of Peace. Ver. 7. Of the increase of his. 
government and peace there shall be no end, 
upon the throne of David, and upon his 
kingdom, to order it, and to establish it 
with judgment and with justice from 
henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the 
Lord of hosts will perform this. Phil, 
ii. 8. And being found in fashion as a 
man, he humbled himself, and became obe- 
dient unto death, even the death of the 
cross. Ver. 9. Wherefore God also hath 
highly exalted him, and given him a name 
which is above every name : Ver. 10. 
That at the name of Jesus every knee 
should bow, of things in heaven, and things 
in earth, and things under the earth; 
Ver. 11. And that every tongue should 
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the 
glory of God the Father. 

43. x John i. 18. No man hath seen God 
at any time ; the only begotten Son, which 
is in the bosom of the Father, he hath de- 
clared him. 

yl Pet. i. 10. Of which salvation the 
prophets have enquired and searched dili- 
gently, who prophesied of the grace that 
should come unto you : Ver. 11. Search- 
ing what, or what manner of time, the 
Spirit of Christ which was in them did sig- 
nify, when it testified beforehand the suf- 
ferings of Christ, and the glory that should 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



149 



divers ways of administration/ the whole will of God/ in all 
things concerning their edification and salvation. b 

Q. 44. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? 

A, Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once 
offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, c to be a 
reconciliation for the sins of his people ; d and in making 
continual intercession for them. 6 

Q. 45. How doth Christ execute the office of a king ? 

A, Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out 
of the world a people to himself/ and giving them officers/ 



follow. Ver. 12. Unto whom it was re- 
vealed, that not unto themselves, but unto 
us, they did minister the things which are 
now reported unto you by them that have 
preached the gospel unto you with the Holy 
Ghost sent down from heaven ; which thing 
the angels desire to look into. 

z Heb. i. 1. God, who at sundry times, 
and in divers manners, spake in time past 
unto the fathers by the prophets, Ver. 2. 
Hath in these last days spoken unto us 
by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir 
of all things, by whom also he made the 
worlds. 

a John xv. 15. Henceforth I call you 
not servants; for the servant knoweth 
not what his lord doeth : but I have called 
you friends ; for all things that I have heard 
of my Father I have made known unto you. 

b Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I 
commend you to God, and to the word of 
his grace, which is able to build you up, and 
to give you an inheritance among all them 
which are sanctified. Eph. iv. 11. And he 
gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; 
and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors 
and teachers; Ver. 12. For the perfecting 
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, 
for the edifying of the body of Christ: Ver. 
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, 
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of 
the stature of the fulness of Christ. John 
xx. 31. But these are written, that ye 
might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the 
Son of God ; and that believing ye might 
have life through his name. 

44. Heb. ix. 14. How much more 
shall the blood of Christ, who through the 
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot 
to God, purge your conscience from dead 
works, to serve the living God ? Ver. 28. 
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins 
of many : and unto them that look for him 
shall he appear the second time, without 
sin, unto salvation. 



d Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things 
it behoved him to be made like unto his 
brethren, that he might be a merciful 
and faithful high priest in things per- 
taining to God, to make reconciliation for 
the sins of the people. 

e Heb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able 
also to save them to the uttermost that 
come unto God by him, seeing he ever 
liveth to make intercession for them. 

45. f Acts xv. 1 4. Simeon hath declared 
how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, 
to take out of them a people for his name. 
Ver. 15. And to this agree the words of 
the prophets; as it is written, Ver. 16. 
After this I will return, and will build 
again the tabernacle of David, which is 
fallen down ; and I will build again the 
ruins thereof, and I will set it up. Isa. 
lv. 4. Behold, I have given him for a 
witness to the people, a leader and com- 
mander to the people. Ver. 5. Behold, 
thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest 
not ; and nations that knew not thee shall 
run unto thee, because of the Lord thy 
God, and for the Holy One of Israel ; for 
he hath glorified thee. Gen. xlix. 10. 
The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, 
nor a lawgiver from between his feet, 
until Shiloh come ; and unto him shall the 
gathering of the people be. Ps. ex. 3. Thy 
people shall be willing in the day of thy 
power, in the beauties of holiness from the 
womb of the morning : thou hast the dew 
of thy youth. 

e Eph. iv. 1 1 . And he gave some, apostles ; 
and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; 
and some pastors, and teachers; Ver. 12, 
For the perfecting of the saints, for the 
work of the ministry, for the edifying of 
the body of Christ. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And 
God hath set some in the church, first, 
apostles ; secondarily, prophets ; thirdly, 
teachers; after that miracles; then gifts 
of healings, helps, governments, diversities 
of tongues. 



150 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



laws, h and censures, by which he visibly governs them ;* in 
bestowing saving grace upon his elect, k rewarding their 
obedience, 1 and correcting them for their sins/* preserving 
and supporting them under all their temptations and suf- 
ferings, 11 restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and 
powerfully ordering all things for his own glory/ and their 
good; q and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who 
know not God, and obey not the gospel/ 

Q. 46. What was the estate of Christ's humiliation f 
A. The estate of Christ's humiliation was that low con- 
dition, wherein he for our sakes, emptying himself of his 
glory, took upon him the form of a servant, in his con- 
ception and birth, life, death, and after his death, until his 
resurrection/ 3 



h Isa. xxxiii. 22. For the Lord is our 
judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is 
our king ; he will save us. 

* Matt, xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect 
to hear them, tell it unto the church : but 
if he neglect to hear the church, let him be 
unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 
Ver. 18. Verily I say unto you, Whatso- 
ever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound 
in heaven ; and whatsoever ye shall loose on 
earth shall be loosed in heaven. 1 Cor. v. 4. 
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when 
ye are gathered together, and my spirit, 
with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
Ver. 5. To deliver such an one unto Satan 
for the destruction of the flesh, that the 
spirit may be saved in the day of the 
Lord Jesus. 

k Acts v. 31. Him hath God exalted 
with his right hand to be a Prince and a 
Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and 
forgiveness of sins. 

1 Rev. xxii. 12. And, behold, I come 
quickly; and my reward is with me, to 
give every man according as his work shall 
be. Rev. ii. 10. Fear none of those things 
which thou shalt suffer : behold, the devil 
shall cast some of you into prison, that 
ye may be tried ; and ye shall have 
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful 
unto death, and I will give thee a crown 
of life. 

m Rev. iii. 19. As many as I love, Ire- 
buke and chasten : be zealous therefore, and 
repent. 

n Isa. lxiii. 9. In all their affliction he 
was afflicted, and the angel of his presence 
saved them : in his love and in his pity 
lie redeemed them; and he bare them, and 
carried them all the days of old. 



° 1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign, till 
he hath put all enemies under his feet. Ps. 
ex. 1. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit 
thou at my right hand, until 1 make 
thine enemies thy footstool. Ver. 2. The 
Lord shall send the rod of thy strength 
out of Zion : rule thou in the midst of 
thine enemies, etc. [See the Psalm through- 
out.] 

p Rom. xiv. 10. But why dost thou 
judge thy brother ? or why dost thou set 
at nought thy brother ? for we shall all 
stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. 
Ver. 11. For it is written, As I live, 
saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to 
me, and every tongue shall confess to 
God. 

i Rom. viii. 28. And we know that all 

things work together for good to them that 
love God, to them who are the called ac- 
cording to his purpose. 

r 2 Thess. i. 8. In flaming fire, taking 
vengeance on them that know not God, and 
that obey not the go«pel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ: Ver. 9. Who shall be punished 
with everlasting destruction from the pre- 
sence of the Lord, and from the glory of 
his power. Ps. ii. 8. Ask of me, and I 
shall give thee the heathen for thine in- 
heritance, and the uttermost parts of the 
earth for thy possession. Ver. 9. Thou 
shalt break them with a rod of iron ; thou 
shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's 



46. s Phil. ii. 6. Who, being in the 
form of God, thought it not robbery to 
be equal with God ; Ver. 7. But made 
himself of no reputation, and took upon him 
the form of a servant, and was made in the 
likeness of men ; Ver. 8. And being found 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



151 



Q. 47. How did Christ humble himself in his conception 
and birth ? 

A. Christ humbled himself in his conception and birth, 
in that, being from all eternity the Son of God, in the 
bosom of the Father, he was pleased in the fulness of time 
to become the son of man, made of a woman of low estate, 
and to be born of her ; with divers circumstances of more 
than ordinary abasement.' 

Q. 48. How did Christ humble himself in his life? 

A. Christ humbled himself in his life, by subjecting 
himself to the law, v which he perfectly fulfilled ; w and by 
conflicting with the indignities of the world,* temptations 
of Satan/ and infirmities in his flesh, whether common to 
the nature of man, or particularly accompanying that his 
low condition. 2 

Q. 49. How did Christ humble himself in his death ? 

A. Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having 



in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, 
and became obedient unto death, even the 
death of the cross. Luke i. 31. And, be- 
hold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and 
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name 
JESUS. 2 Cor. viii. 9. For ye know the 
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, 
though he was rich, yet for your sokes he 
became poor, that ye through his poverty 
might be rich. Acts ii. 24. Whom Cod 
hath raised up, having loosed the pains of 
death : because it was not possible that he 
should be holden of it. 

47. 4 John i. 14. And the Word was 
made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we 
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only 

■ begotten of the Father,) full of grace and 
truth. Ver. ] 8. No man hath seen God 
at any time ; the only begotten Son, which 
is in the bosom of the Father, he hath de- 
clared him. Gal. iv. 4. But when the 
fulness of the time was come, God sent 
forth his Son, made of a woman, made under 
the law. Luke ii. 7. And she brought forth 
her first-born son, and wrapped him in swad- 
dling clothes, and laid him in a manger ; 
because there was no room for them in the 
inn. 

48. v Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness 
of the time was come, God sent forth his 
Son, made of a woman, made under the law. 

w Matt. v. 17. Think not that 1 am 
come to destroy the law or the prophets : 
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 
Rom. v. 19. For as by one man's dis- 



obedience many were made sinners; so 
by the obedience of one shall many be made 
righteous. 

* Ps. xxii. 6. But I am a worm, and no 
man ; a reproach of men, and despised of 
the people. Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto 
Jesus, the author and finisher of our 
faith ; who, for the joy that was set be- 
fore him, endured the cross, despising the 
shame, and is set down at the right hand 
of the throne of God. Ver. 3. For con- 
sider him that endured such contradiction of 
sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied 
and faint in your minds. 

y Matt. iv. 1 to verse 12. Then was 
Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilder- 
ness, to be tempted of the devil, etc. Luke 
iv. 13. And when the devil had ended all 
the temptation, he departed from him for a 



2 Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it 
behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, 
that he might be a merciful and faithful 
high priest in things pertaining to God 
to make reconciliation for the sins of the 
people. Ver. 18. For in that he himself 
hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to 
succour them that are tempted. Heb. iv. 
15. For we have not an high priest which 
cannot be touched with the feeling of our 
infirmities; but was in all points tempted 
like as we are, yet without sin. Isa. Hi. 13. 
Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, 
he shall be exalted and extolled, and be 
very high, Ver. 14. As many were asto- 



152 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



been betrayed by Judas/ forsaken by his disciples/ scorned 
and rejected by the world/ condemned by Pilate, and tor- 
mented by his persecutors ; d having also conflicted with 
the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and 
borne the weight of God's wrath, 6 he laid down his life an 
offering for sin/ enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed 
death of the cross/ 

Q. 50. Wherein consisted Christ's humiliation after his 
death ? 

A. Christ's humiliation after his death consisted in his 
being buried/ and continuing in the state of the dead, and 
under the power of death till the third day ; 1 which hath 



nished at thee : (his visage was so marred 
more tJian any man, and his form more than 
the sons of men.) 

49. a Matt, xxvii. 4. Saying, I have 
sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent 
blood. And they said, What is that to 
us ? see thou to that. 

b Matt. xxvi. 56. But all this was done, 
that the scriptures of the prophets might 
be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook 
him, and fled. 

c Isa. Hii. 2. For he shall grow up be- 
fore him as a tender plant, and as a root 
out of a dry ground : he hath no form nor 
comeliness; and when we shall see him, 
there is no beauty that we should desire him. 
Ver. 3. He is despised and rejected of men; 
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with 
grief ; and we hid as it were our faces 
from him : he was despised, and we esteemed 
him not. 

d Matt. xxvii. 26 to verse 50. Then 
released he Barabbas unto them : and 
when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him 
to be crucified, etc. John xix. 34. But one 
of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, 
and forthwith came thereout blood and 
water. 

e Luke xxii. 44. And, being in an 
agony, he prayed more earnestly : and 
his sweat was as it were great drops of blood 
falling down to the ground. Matt, xxvii. 
46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried 
with a loud voice, saying, Mi, Eli, lama 
sabachthani ? that is to say. My God, my 
God, why hast thou forsaken me ? 

f Isa. liii. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord 
to bruise him ; he hath put him to grief : 
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for 
sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong 
his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall 
prosper in his hand. 

8 Phil. ii. 8. And being found in fashion 



as a man, he humbled himself, and became 
obedient unto death, even the death of the 
cross. Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, 
the author and finisher of our faith ; who, 
for the joy that was set before him, en- 
dured the cross, despising the shame, and is 
set down at the right hand of the throne of 
God. Gal. iii. 13. Christ hath redeemed 
us from the curse of the law, being made a 
curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is 
every one that hangeth on a tree. 

50. h 1 Cor, xv. 3. For I delivered unto 
you first of all that which I also received, 
how that Christ died for our sins accord- 
ing to the scriptures; Ver. 4. And that 
he was buried, and that he rose again the 
third clay according to the scriptures. 

1 Ps. xvi. 10. For thou wilt not leave my 
soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine 
Holy One to see corruption. Compared with 
Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath raised up, 
having loosed the pains of death: because 
it was not possible that he should be 
holden of it. Ver. 25. For David speak- 
eth concerning him, I foresaw the Lord 
always before my face ; for he is on my 
right hand, that I should not be moved : 
Ver. 26. Therefore did my heart rejoice, 
and my tongue was glad ; moreover also, 
my flesh shall rest in hope: Ver. 27. Be- 
cause thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, 
neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One 
to see corruption. Ver. 31. He, seeing 
this before, spake of the resurrection of 
Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, 
neither his flesh did see corruption. Rom. 
vi. 9. Knowing that Christ, being raised 
from the dead, dieth no more ; death hath 
no more dominion over him. Matt. xii. 
40. For as Jonas was three days and 
three nights in the whale's belly, so shall 
the Son of man be three days and three 
nights in the heart of the earth. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



153 



been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into 
hell. 

Q. 51. What was the estate of Christ's exaltation ? 

A. The estate of Christ's exaltation comprehendeth his 
resurrection/ ascension/ sitting at the right hand of the 
Father, m and his coming again to judge the world. 11 

Q. 52. How was Christ exalted in his resurrection ? 

A. Christ was exalted in his resurrection, in that, not 
having seen corruption in death, (of which it was not 
possible for him to be held, ) and having the very same 
body in which he suffered, with the essential properties 
thereof/ (but without mortality, and other common infir- 
mities belonging to this life,) really united to his soul, q he 
rose again from the dead the third day by his own power ; r 
whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God/ to have 
satisfied divine justice,* to have vanquished death, and him 
that had the power of it/ and to be Lord of quick and dead : w 
all which he did as a public person/ the head of his church/ 



51. * l Cor. xv. 4. And that he was 
buried, and that he rose again the third 
day according to the scriptures. 

1 Mark xvi. 19. So then, after the Lord 
had spoken unto them, he was received up 
into heaven, and sat on the right hand of 
God. 

m Eph. i. 20. Which he wrought in 
Christ, when he raised him from the dead, 
and set him at his own right hand in the 
heavenly places. 

n Acts i. 11. Which also said, Te men 
of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into 
heaven ? this same Jesus, which is taken 
up from you into heaven, shall so come in 
like manner as ye have seen him go into 
heaven. Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath 
appointed a day, in the which he will judge 
the world in righteousness by that man whom 
he hath ordained ; whereof he hath given 
assurance unto all men, in that he hath 
raised him from the dead. 

62. Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath raised 
up, having loosed the pains of death : be- 
cause it was not possible that he should be 
holden of it. Ver. 27. Because thou wilt 
not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou 
suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

p Luke xxiv. 39. Behold my hands and 
my feet that it is I myself : handle me, and 
see ; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as 
ye see me have. 

i Rom. vi. 9. Knowing that Christ, 
being raised from the dead, dieth no more ; 



death hath no more dominion over him. Rev. 
i. 18. I am he that liveth, and was dead ; 
and, behold, / am alive for evermore, Amen ; 
and have the keys of hell and of death. 

r John x. 18. No man taketh it from 
me, but I lay it down of myself. I have 
power to lay it down, and / have power to 
take it again. This commandment have I 
received of my Father. 

8 Rom. i. 4. And declared to be the Son 
of God with power, according to the Spirit 
of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. 

* Rom. viii. 34. Who is he that con- 
demneth ? It is Christ that died, yea rather, 
that is risen again, who is even at the right 
hand of God, who also maketh intercession 
for us. 

v Heb. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as the 
children are partakers of flesh and blood, 
he also himself likewise took part of the 
same ; that through death he might destroy 
him that had the power of death, that is, the 
devil. 

w Rom. xiv. 9. For to this end Christ 
both died, and rose, and revived, that he 
might be Lord both of the dead and living. 

x 1 Cor. xv. 21. For since by man came 
death, by man came also the resurrection of 
the dead. Ver. 22. For as in Adam all 
die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive. 

7 Eph. i. 20. Which he wrought in 
Christ, when he raised him from the dead, 
and set him at his own right hand in the 



154 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



for their justification/ quickening in grace/ support against 
enemies/ and to assure them of their resurrection from 
the dead at the last day/ 5 

Q. 53. How was Christ exalted in Ms ascension ? 

A. Christ was exalted in his ascension, in that having 
after his resurrection often appeared unto and conversed 
with his apostles, speaking to them of the things pertaining 
to the kingdom of God, d and giving them commission to 
preach the gospel to all nations/ forty days after his resur- 
rection, he, in our nature, and as our head/ triumphing 
over enemies/ visibly went up into the highest heavens, 
there to receive gifts for men/ to raise up our affections 
thither/ and to prepare a place for us, k where himself is, 



heavenly places, Ver. 22. And hath put 
all things under his feet, and gave him to 
be the head over all things to the church, 
Ver. 23. Which is his body, the fulness of 
him that filleth all in all. Col. i. 18. 
And he is the head of the body, the church ; 
■who is the beginning, the first-born from 
the dead ; that in all things he might have 
the pre-eminence. 

* Rom. iv. 25. Who was delivered for 
our offences, and was raised again for our 
justification. 

a Eph. ii. 1. And you hath he quickened, 
who were dead in trespasses and sins. 
Ver. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, 
hath quickened us together with Christ ; (by 
grace ye are saved ;) Ver. 6. And hath 
raised us up together, and made us sit 
together in heavenly places in Christ 
Jesus. Col. ii. 12. Buried with him in 
baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him 
through the faith of the operation of God, 
who hath raised him from the dead. 

b 1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign, till 
he hath put all enemies under his feet. Ver. 
26. The last enemy that shall be destroyed 
is death. Ver. 27. For he hath put all 
things under his feet. But when he saith, 
All things are put under him, it is mani- 
fest that he is excepted which did put ail 
things under him. 

c 1 Cor. xv. 20. But now is Christ risen 
from the dead, and become the first-fruits 
of them that slept. 

53. d Acts i. 2. Until the day in which 
he was taken up, after that he through 
the Holy Ghost had given commandments 
unto the apostles whom he had chosen : 
Ver 3. To whom also he shewed himself 
alive after his passion by many infallible 
proofs, being seen of them forty days, and 



speaking of the things pertaining to the 
kingdom of God. 

e Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost ; Ver. 20. Teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you : and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the 
world. Amen. 

f Heb. vi. 20. Whither the forerunner is for 
us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest 
for ever, after the order of Melchisedec. 

s Eph. iv. 8. Wherefore he saith, When 
he ascended up on high, he led captivity cap- 
tive, and gave gifts unto men. 

h Acts i. 9. And when he had spoken 
these things, while they beheld, he was 
taken up ; and a cloud received him out of 
their sight. Ver. 10. And, while they 
looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went 
up, behold, two men stood by them in 
white apparel ; Ver. 11. Which also said, 
Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing 
up into heaven ? this same Jesus, which is 
taken up from you into heaven, shall so 
come in like manner as ye have seen him 
go into heaven. Eph. iv. 10. He that 
descended is the same also that ascended up 
far above all heavens, that he might fill all 
things. Ps. Ixviii. 18. Thou hast ascended 
on high, thou hast led captivity captive : 
thou hast received gifts for men ; yea, for 
the rebellious also, that the Lord God 
might dwell among them. 

1 Col. iii. 1. If ye then be risen with 
Christ, seek those things which are above, 
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of 
God. Ver. 2. Set your affection on 
things above, not on things on the earth. 

k John xiv. 3. And if I go and prepare 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



155 



and shall continue till his second coming at the end of the 
world. 1 

Q. 54. How is Christ exalted in his sitting at the right 
hand of God ? 

A. Christ is exalted in his sitting at the right hand of 
God, in that as God-man he is advanced to the highest 
favour with God the Father, m with all fulness of joy, n glory, 
and power over all things in heaven and earth ; p and doth 
gather and defend his church, and subdue their enemies ; 
furnisheth his ministers and people with gifts and graces,* 1 
and maketh intercession for them/ 

Q. 55. How doth Christ make intercession ? 

A. Christ maketh intercession, by his appearing in our 
nature continually before the Father in heaven, 8 in the merit 
of his obedience and sacrifice on earth,* declaring his will to 
have it applied to all believers ; v answering all accusations 

a place for you, I will come again, and re- fying of the body of Christ. Ps. ex. 1. The 

ceive you unto myself ; that where I am, Lord, said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my 

there ye may be also. right hand, until I make thine enemies thy 

1 Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must footstool, etc. [See the Psalm throughout.] 

receive until the times of restitution of all r Rom. viii. 34. Who is he that con- 

things, which God hath spoken by the demneth ? It is Christ that died, yea 

mouth of all his holy prophets since the rather, that is risen again, who is even at 

world began. v the right hand of God, who also maketh in- 

54. m Phil. ii. 9. Wherefore God also ter cession for us. 

hath highly exalted him, and given him a 55. s Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood 

name which is above every name. of goats and calves, but by his own blood, 

n Acts ii. 28. Thou hast made known he entered in once into the holy place, having 

to me the ways of life ; thou shalt make obtained eternal redemption for us. Ver. 

me full of joy with thy countenance. Com- 24. For Christ is not entered into the 

pared with Ps. xvi. 11. Thou wilt shew holy places made with hands, which are the 

me the path of life : in thy presence is ful- figures of the true ; but into heaven itself, 

ness of joy ; at thy right hand there are now to appear in the presence of God for us. 

pleasures for evermore. * Heb. i. 3. Who, being the brightness 

John xvii. 5. And now, Father, of his glory, and the express image of his 
glorify thou me with thine own self with person, and upholding all things by the 
the glory which I had with thee before the word of his power, when he had by himself 
world was. purged our sins, sat down on the right hand 

p Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things of the Majesty on high, 
under his feet, and gave him to be the head v John iii. 16. For God so loved the 

over all things to the church. 1 Pet. iii. world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 

22. Who is gone into heaven, and is on that whosoever believeth in him should not 

the right hand of God ; angels, and autho- perish, but have everlasting life. John xvii. 

rities, and powers, being made subject unto 9. I pray for them: I pray not for the 

him. world, but for them which thou hast given 

1 Eph. iv. 10. He that descended is the me ; for they are thine. Ver. 20. Neither 
same also that ascended up far above all pray I for these alone, but for them also 
heavens, that he might fill all things, which shall believe on me through their word. 
Ver. 11. And he gave some, apostles; Ver. 24. Father, I will that they also whom 
and some, prophets ; and some, evange- thou hast given me be with me where I am ; 
lists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; that they may behold my glory, which thou 
Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, hast given me : for thou lovedst me before 
for the work of the ministry, for the edi- the foundation of the world. 



156 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



against them/ and procuring for them quiet of conscience, 
notwithstanding daily failings/ access with boldness to the 
throne of grace/ and acceptance of their persons 2 and 
services. 3, 

Q. 56. How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to 
judge the world? 

A. Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge 
the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and con- 
demed by wicked men/ shall come again at the last day in 
great power/ and in the full manifestation of his own glory, 
and of his Father's, with all his holy angels/ with a shout, 
with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of 
God/ to judge the world in righteousness/ 

Q. 57. What benefits hath Christ procured by his me- 
diation ? 

A, Christ, by his mediation, hath procured redemption/ 
with all other benefits of the covenant of grace/ 



w Eom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any 
thing to the charge of God's elect? It is 
God that justifieth ; Ver. 34. Who is he 
that conderrmeth ? It is Christ that died, 
yea rather, that is risen again, who is even 
at the right hand of God, who also maketh 
intercession for us. 

x Eom. v. 1 . Therefore being justified 
by faith, we have peace with God, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ : Ver. 2. By whom 
also we have access by faith into this 
grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in 
hope of the glory of God. 1 John ii. 1. 
My little children, these things write I 
unto you, that ye sin not. And if any 
man sin, we have an advocate with the 
Father, Jesus Christ the righteous : Ver. 2. 
And he is the propitiation for our sins ; 
and not for ours only, but also for the 
sins of the whole world. 

y Heb. iv. 16. Let us therefore come 
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we 
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help 
in time of need. 

2 Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory 
of his grace, wherein he hath made us ac- 
cepted in the Beloved. 

a 1 Pet. ii. 5. Ye also, as lively stones, 
are built up a spiritual house, an holy 
priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, 
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

56. b Acts iii. 14. But ye denied the 
Holy One and the Just, and desired a mur- 
derer to be granted unto you; Ver. 15. 
And killed the Prince of life, whom God 



hath raised from the dead; whereof we 

are witnesses. 

c Matt. xxiv. 30. And then shall appear 
the sign of the Son of man in heaven : and 
then shall all the tribes of the earth 
mourn, and they shall see the Son of man 
coming in the clouds of heaven with power 
and great glory. 

d Luke ix. 26. For whosoever shall be 
ashamed of me, and of my words, of him 
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when 
he shall come in his own glory, and in his 
Father's, and of the holy angels. Matt, 
xxv. 31. When the Son of man shall come 
in his glory, and all the holy angels with 
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of 
his glory. 

e 1 Thess. iv. 16. For the Lord himself 
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with 
the voice of the archangel, and vAth the trump 
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise 
first. 

f Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath ap- 
pointed a day, in the which he will judge 
the world in righteousness by that man 
whom he hath ordained ; whereof he hath 
given assurance unto all men, in that he 
hath raised him from the dead. 

57. s Heb. ix. 12. Neither by the blood 
of goats and calves, but by his own blood, 
he entered in once into the holy place, 
having obtained eternal redemption for us. 

h 2 Cor. i. 20. For all the promises of 
God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto 
the glory of God by us. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM, 



157 



Q. 58. How do we come to be made partakers of the benefits 
which Christ hath procured ? 

A, We are made partakers of the benefits which Christ 
hath procured, by the application of them unto us/ which 
is the work especially of Cod the Holy Ghost. k 

Q. 59. Who are made partakers of redemption through 
Christ ? 

A, Redemption is certainly applied, and effectually com- 
municated, to all those for whom Christ hath purchased it 
who are in time by the Holy Ghost enabled to believe in 
Christ according to the gospel. m 

Q. 60. Can they who have never heard the gospel, and so 
know not Jesus Christ, nor believe in him, be saved by their 
living according to the light of nature f 

A. They who, having never heard the gospel, 11 know not 
Jesus Christ, and believe not in him, cannot be saved, p be , 
they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the 



58. i John i. 11. He came unto his own, 
and his own received him not. Ver. 12. 

But as many as received him, to them gave 
he power to become the sons of God, even 
to them that believe on his name. 

k Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteous- 
ness which we have done, hut according 
to his mercy he saved us, by the washing 
of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost; Ver. 6. Which he shed on us 
abundantly through Jesus Christ our Sa- 
viour. 

59. 1 Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also 
trusted, after that ye heard the word of 
truth, the gospel of your salvation : in 
whom also, after that ye believed, ye 
were sealed with that Holy Spirit of pro- 
mise, Ver. 14. Which is the earnest of our 
inheritance, until the redemption of the pur- 
chased possession, unto the praise of his 
glory. John vi. 37. All that the Father 
giveth me shall come to me : and him that 
cometh to me / will in no wise cast out 
Ver. 39. And this is the Father's will 
which hath sent me, that of all which he 
hath given me I should lose nothing, but 
should raise it up again at the last day. 
John x. 15. As the Father knoweth me, 
even so know I the Father : and I lay 
down my life for the sheep. Ver. 16. And 
other sheep I have, which are not of this 
fold : them also I must bring, and they shall 
hear my voice ; and there shall be one fold, 
and one shepherd. 

m Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved, 



through faith ; and that not of yourselves : 
it is the gift of God. 2 Cor. iv. 13. We 
having the same spirit of faith, according as 
it is written, I believed, and therefore 
have I spoken ; we also believe, and there- 
fore speak. 

60. n Rom. x. 14. How then shall they 
call on him in whom they have not be- 
lieved ? and how shall they believe in him 
of whom they have not heard? and how 
shall they hear without a preacher ? 

2 Thess. i. 8. In flaming fire, taking 
vengeance on them that know not God, and 
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ: Ver. 9. Who shall be punished 
with everlasting destruction from the pre- 
sence of the Lord, and from the glory of 
his power. Eph. ii. 12. That at that time 
ye were without Christ, being aliens from 
the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers 
from the covenants of promise, having no 
hope, and without God in the world. John 
i. 10. He was in the world, and the world 
was made by him, and the world knew him 
not. Ver. 11. He came unto his own, and 
his own received him not. Ver. 12. But 
as many as received him, to them gave he 
power to become the sons of God, even to 
them that believe on his name. 

p John viii. 24. I said therefore unto 
you, that ye shall die in your sins : for 
if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die 
in your sins. Mark xvi. 16. He that be- 
lieveth, and is baptized, shall be saved ; 
but he that believeth not shall be damned. 



159 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



light of nature,* or the laws of that religion which they pro- 
fess ; r neither is there salvation in any other, but in Christ 
alone, 8 who is the Saviour only of his body the church.* 

Q. 61. Are all they saved who hear the gospel, and live in 
the church ? 

A. All that hear the gospel, and live in the visible church, 
are not saved ; but they only who are true members of the 
church invisible/ 

Q. 62. What is the visible church ? 

A. The visible church is a society made up of all such as 
in all ages and places of the world do profess the true reli- 
gion/ and of their children/ 



1 1 Cor. i. 20. Where is the wise ? where 
is the scribe ? where is the disputer of this 
world ? hath not God made foolish the wis- 
dom of this world? Ver. 21. For after 
that, in the wisdom of God, the world by 
wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by 
the foolishness of preaching to save them 
that believe. Ver. 22. For the Jews re- 
quire a sign, and the Greeks seek after 
wisdom: Ver. 23. But we preach Christ 
crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, 
and unto the Greeks foolishness ; Ver. 24. 
But unto them which are called, both 
Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, 
and the wisdom of God. 

r John iv. 22. Ye worship ye know not 
what : we know what we worship : for 
salvation is of the Jews. Rom. ix. 31. 
But Israel, which, followed after the law of 
righteousness, hath not attained to the law of 
righteousness. Ver. 32. Wherefore ? Be- 
cause they sought it not by faith, but as 
it were by the works of the law : for they 
stumbled at that stumbling-stone. PhiL 
iii. 4. Though I might also have confidence 
in the flesh. If any other man thinketh 
that he hath whereof he might trust in 
the flesh, I more : Ver. 5. Circumcised 
the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of 
the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the 
Hebrews ; as touching the law, a Pharisee ; 
Ver. 6. Concerning zeal, persecuting the 
church : touching the righteousness which is 
in the law, blameless. Ver. 7. But what 
things were gain to me, those / counted 
loss for Christ. Ver. 8. Yea doubtless, 
and I count all things but loss for the ex- 
cellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus 
my Lord : for whom I have suffered the 
loss of all things, and do count them but 
dung, that I may win Christ, Ver. 9. And 
be found in him, not having mine own righte- 
ousness, which is of the law, but that which 



is through the faith of Christ, the righteous- 
ness which is of God by faith. 

s Acts iv. 12. Neither is there salvation 
in any other : for there is none other name 
under heaven given among men whereby we 
must be saved. 

1 Eph. v. 23. For the husband is the 
head of the wife, even as Christ is the head 
of the church ; and he is the saviour of the 
body. 

61. v John xii. 38. That the saying of 
Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, 
which he spake, Lord, who hath believed 
our report ? and to whom hath the arm of 
the Lord been revealed ? Ver. 39. There- 
fore they could not believe, because that 
Esaias said again, Ver. 40. He hath 
blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart ; 
that they should not see with their eyes, nor 
understand with their heart, and be converted, 
and I should heal them. Bom. ix. 6. Not as 
though the word of God hath taken none 
effect. For they are not all Israel which 
are of Israel. Matt. xxii. 14. For many 
are called, but few are chosen. Matt. vii. 
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, 
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of hea- 
ven; but he that doeth the will of my 
Father which is in heaven. Rom. xi. 7. 
What then ? Israel hath not obtained that 
which he seeketh for ; but the election hath 
obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 

62. w 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of 
God which is at Corinth, to them that are 
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, 
with all that in every place call upon the 
name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs 
and ours. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one 
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, 
whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether 
we be bond or free ; and have been all made 
to drink into one Spirit. Bom. xv. 9. And 
that the Gentiles might glorify God for his 



THE LAHGEE CATECHISM. 



159 



Q. 6S. What are the special privileges of the visible church ? 

A. The visible church hath the privilege of being under 
God's special care and government ; y of being protected and 
preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all 
enemies; 2 and of enjoying the communion of saints, the 



mercy ; as it is written, For this cause i" 
will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and 
sing unto thy name. Ver. 10. And again 
he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his 
people. Ver. 11. And again, Praise the 
Lord, all ye Gentiles ; and laud him, all ye 
people. Ver. 12. And again Esaias saith, 
There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that 
shall rise to reign over the Gentiles ; in 
him shall the Gentiles trust. Kev. vii. 9. 
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great mul- 
titude, which no man could number, of all 
nations, and kindreds, and people, and 
tongues, stood before the throne, and be- 
fore the Lamb, clothed with white robes, 
and palms in their hands. Ps. ii. 8. Ask 
of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for 
thine- inheritance, and the uttermost parts of 
the earth for thy possession. Ps. xxii. 27. 
All the ends of the world shall remember, 
and turn unto the Lord ; and all the kin- 
dreds of the nations shall worship before 
thee. Ver. 28. For the kingdom is the 
Lord's ; and he is the governor among the 
nations. Ver. 29. All they that be fat 
upon earth shall eat and worship : all they 
that go down to the dust shall bow before 
him; and none can keep alive his own 
soul. Ver. 30. A seed shall serve him ; it 
shall be accounted to the Lord for a genera- 
tion. Ver. 31. They shall come, and shall 
declare his righteousness unto a people that 
shall be born, that he hath done this. Ps. 
xlv. 17. I will make thy name to be re- 
membered in all generations : therefore 
shall the people praise thee for ever and ever. 
Matt, xxviii. 197 Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost; Ver. 20. Teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you : and, lo, L am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world. 
Amen. Isa. lix. 21. As for me, this is 
my covenant with them, saith the Lord ; 
My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words 
which I have put in thy mouth, shall not 
depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth 
of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy 
seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth 
and for ever. 

x 1 Cor. vii. 1 4. For the unbelieving 
husband is sanctified by the wife, and the 



unbelieving wife is sanctified by the hus- 
band : else were your children unclean ; 
but now are they holy. Acts ii. 39. For 
the promise is unto you, and to your chil- 
dren, and to all that are afar off, even as 
many as the Lord our God shall call. 
Rom. xi. 16. For if the first-fruit be holy, 
the lump is also holy ; and if the root be 
holy, so are the branches. Gen. xvii. 7. 
And I will establish my covenant between 
me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in 
their generations, for an everlasting cove- 
nant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed 
after thee. 

63. y Isa. iv. 5. And the Lord will 
create upon every dwelling-place of mount 
Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud 
and smoke by day, and the shining of a 
flaming fire by night : for upon all the 
glory shall be a defence. Ver. 6. And there 
shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the 
day-time from the heat, and for a place of 
refuge, and for a covert from storm and from 
rain. 1 Tim. iv. 10. For therefore we 
both labour and suffer reproach, because 
we trust in the living God, who is tlie 
Saviour of all men, specially of those that 
believe. 

z Ps. cxv. 1. Not unto us, Lord, not 
unto us, but — Ver. 2. Wherefore should 
the heathen say, Where is now their 
God ? &c. Ver. 9. Israel, trust thou 
in the Lord ; he is their help and their 
shield, #c. [See the Psalm throughout.] 
Isa. xxxi. 4. For thus hath the Lord 
spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the 
young lion roaring on his prey, when a 
multitude of shepherds is called forth 
against him, he will not be afraid of their 
voice, nor abase himself for the noise of 
them : so shall the Lord of hosts come 
down to fight for mount Zion, and for the 
hill thereof. Ver. 5. As birds flying, so 
will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem ; 
defending also he will deliver it ; and pass- 
ing over he will preserve it. Zech. xii. 2. 
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of 
trembling unto all the people round about, 
when they shall be in the siege both against 
Judah and against Jerusalem. Ver. 3. 
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a 
burdensome stone for all people : all that 
burden themselves with it shall be cut in 



160 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



ordinary means of salvation/ and offers of grace by Christ 
to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testi- 
fying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved/ and 
excluding none that will come unto him. c 
Q. 64. What is the invisible church ? 

A. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, 
that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under 
Christ the head. d 

Q. 65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible 
church enjoy by Christ ? 

A. The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy 
union and communion with him in grace and glory. 6 

Q. 66. What is that union which the elect have with Christ? 

A. The union which the elect have with Christ is the 
work of God's grace/ whereby they are spiritually and mys- 



pieces, though all the people of the earth be 
gathered together against it. Ver. 4. In 
that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every 
horse with astonishment, and his rider with 
madness ; and I will open mine eyes upon 
the house of Judah, and will smite every 
horse of the people with blindness. Ver. 8. 
In that day shall the Lord defend the inha- 
bitants of Jerusalem ; and he that is feeble 
among them at that day shall be as David ; 
and the house of David shall be as God, as 
the angel of the Lord before them. Ver. 9. 
And it shall come to pass in that day, that 
I will seek to destroy all the nations that 
come against Jerusalem. 

a Acts ii. 39. For the promise is unto 
you, and to your children, and to all that 
are afar off, even as many as the Lord our 
God shall call. Ver. 42. And they con- 
tinued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine 
and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, 
and in prayers. 

b Ps. cxlvii. 19. He sheweth his word 
unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments 
unto Israel. Ver. 20. He hath not dealt 
so with any nation : and as for his judg- 
ments, they have not known them. Praise 
ye the Lord. Eom. ix. 4. Who are Is- 
raelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, 
and the glory, and the covenants, and the 
giving of the law, and the service of God, 
and the promises. Eph. iv. 11. And he 
gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; 
and some, evangelists; and some, pastors 
and teachers; Ver. 12. For the perfecting 
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, 
for the edifying of the body of Christ. 
Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Go 



ye into all the world, and preach the gospel 
to every creature. Ver. 16. He that be- 
lieveth, and is baptized, shall be saved ; but 
he that believeth not shall be damned. 

c John vi. 37. All that the Father 
giveth me shall come to me ; and him that 
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 

64. d Eph. i. 10. That, in the dispensa- 
tion of the fulness of times, he might 
gather together in one all things in Christ, 
both which are in heaven, and which are 
on earth, even in him. Ver. 22. And hath 
put all things under his feet, and gave him 
to be the head over all things to the church, 
Ver. 23. Which is his body, the fulness of 
him that filleth all in all. John x. 16. 
And other sheep I have, which are not of 
this fold : them also I must bring, and they 
shall hear my voice ; and there shall be 
one fold, and one shepherd. John xi. 52. 
And not for that nation only, but that 
also he should gather together in one the 
children of God that were scattered abroad. 

65. e John xvii. 21. That they all may 
be one ; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in 
thee, that they also may be one in us : that 
the world may believe that thou hast sent 
me. Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were dead 
in sins, hath quickened us together with 
Christ ; (by grace ye are saved ;) Ver. 6. 
And hath raised us up together, and made us 
sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 
J ohn xvii. 24. Father, I will that they also 
whom thou hast given me be with me where 
I am ; that they may behold my glory, which 
thou hast given me : for thou lovedst me 
before the foundation of the world. 

66. f Eph. i. 22. And hath put all things 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



161 



tically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their 
head and husband ; g which is done in their effectual calling. 11 
Q. 67. What is effectual calling ? 

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's almighty power 
and grace/ whereby (out of his free and special love to his 
elect, and from nothing in them moving him thereunto k ) he 
doth, in his accepted time, invite and draw them to Jesus 
Christ, by his word and Spirit ; l savingly enlightening their 

under his feet, and gave him to be the head works, but according to his own purpose and 

over all things to the church. Eph. ii. 6. grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus 

And hath raised us up together, and made before the world began, 
us sit together in heavenly places in Christ k Tit. iii. 4. But after that the kindness 

Jesus ; Ver. 7. That in the ages to come and love of God our Saviour toward man 

he might shew the exceeding riches of his appeared, Ver. 5. Not by works of righte- 

grace, in his kindness toward us through ousness which we have done, but according 

Christ Jesus. Ver. 8. For by grace are ye to his mercy he saved us, by the washing 

saved, through faith ; and that not of of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 

yourselves : it is the gift of God. Ghost. Eph. ii. 4. But God, who is rich 

s 1 Cor. vi. 17. But he that is joined in mercy, for his great love wherewith he 

unto the Lord is one spirit. John x. 28. loved us, Ver. 5. Even when we were dead 

And I give unto them eternal life ; and in sins, hath quickened us together with 

they shall never perish, neither shall any Christ ; (by grace ye are saved.) Ver. 7. 

pluck them out of my hand. Eph. v. 23. That in the ages to come he might shew 

For the husband is the head of the wife, even the exceeding riches of his grace, in his kind- 

as Christ is the head of the church ; and he ness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ver. 

is the saviour of the body. Ver. 30. For 8. For by grace are ye saved, through faith ; 

we are members of his body, of his flesh, and and that not of yourselves : it is the gift of 

of his bones. God : Ver. 9. Not of works, lest any man 

h 1 Pet. v. 10. But the God of all grace, should boast. Eom. ix. 11. For the chil- 

who hath called us unto his eternal glory dren being not yet born, neither having done. 

by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suf- any good or evil, that the purpose of God 

fered a while, make you perfect, stablish, according to election might stand, not of 

strengthen, settle you. 1 Cor. i. 9. God works, but of him that calleth. 
is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the 1 2 Cor. v. 20. Now then we are ambas- 

fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, sadors for Christ, as though God did be- 

67. * John v. 25. Verily, verily, I say seech you by us : we pray you in Christ's 

unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, stead, be ye reconciled to God. Compared 

when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son with 2 Cor. vi. 1. We then, as workers to- 

of God ; and they that hear shall live, gether with him, beseech you also that ye 

Eph. i. 18. The eyes of your understand- receive not the grace of God in vain, 

ing being enlightened ; that ye may know Ver. 2. For he saith, / have heard thee in 

what is the hope of his calling, and what a time accepted, and in the day of salvation 

the riches of the glory of his inheritance have I succoured thee : behold, now is the 

in the saints, Ver. 19. And what is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of 

exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward salvation. John vi. 44. No man can come 

who believe, according to the working of his to me, except the Father, which hath sent 

mighty power, Ver. 20. Which he wrought me, draw him : and I will raise him up at 

in Christ, when he raised him from the the last day. 2 Thess. ii. 13. But we are 

dead, and set him at his own right hand bound to give thanks alway to God for 

in the heavenly places. 2 Tim ; i. 8. Be you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because 

not thou therefore ashamed of the testi- God hath from the beginning chosen you 

mony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner : to salvation through sanctification of the 

but be thou partaker of the afflictions of Spirit, and belief of the truth : Ver. 14. 

the gospel, according to the power of God; Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to 

Ver. 9. Who hath saved us, and called us the obtaining of the glory of our Lord 

with an holy calling, not according to our Jesus Christ. 

L 



1G2 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



minds, m renewing and powerfully determining their wills/ 
so as they (although in themselves dead in sin) are hereby 
made willing and able freely to answer his call, and to ac- 
cept and embrace the grace offered and conveyed therein. 

Q. 68. Are the elect only effectually called ? 

A. All the elect, and they only, are effectually called 
although others may be, and often are, outwardly called by 
the ministry of the word, q and have some common opera- 
tions of the Spirit ; r who, for their wilful neglect and con- 
tempt of the grace offered to them, being justly left in their 
unbelief, $0 never truly come to Jesus Christ. 8 

m Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and sied in thy name ? and in thy name have cast 
to turn them from darkness to light, and out devils'? and in thy name done many 
from the power of Satan unto God, that wonderful works ? Matt. xiii. 20. But he 
they may receive forgiveness of sins, and that receiveth the seed into stony places, 
inheritance among them which are sancti- the same is he that heareth the word, and 
fied by faith that is in me. 1 Cor. ii. 10. anon with joy receiveth it : Ver. 21. Yet 
But God hath revealed them unto us by his hath he not root in himself, but dureth for 
Spirit : for the Spirit searcheth all things, a while ; for when tribulation or persecu- 
yea, the deep things of God. Ver. 12. tion ariseth because of the word, by and 
Now we have received, not the spirit of the by he is offended. Heb. vi. 4. For it is 
world, but the Spirit which is of God ; that impossible for those who were once en- 
we might know the things that are freely lightened, and have tasted of the heavenly 
given to us of God. gift, and were made partakers of the Holy 

n Ezek. xi. 19. I will give them one Ghost, Ver. 5. And have tasted the good 
heart, and I will put a new spirit within word of God, and the powers of the world to 
you : and I will take the stony heart out of come, *Ver. 6. If they shall fall away, to 
their flesh, and will give them an heart of renew them again unto repentance. 
flesh. Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will s John xii. 38. That the saying of Esaias 
i" give you, and a new spirit will I put within the prophet might be fulfilled, which he 
you ; and I will take away the stony heart spake, Lord, who hath believed our report ? 
out of your flesh, and I will give you an and to whom hath the arm of the Lord 
heart of flesh. Ver. 27. And I will put my been revealed ? Ver. 39. Therefore they 
Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in could not believe, because that Esaias said 
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, again, Ver. 40. He hath blinded their eyes, 
and do them. John vi. 45. It is written in and hardened their heart; that they should 
the prophets, And they shall be all taught of not see with their eyes, nor understand with 
God. Every man therefore that hath heard, their heart, and be converted, and I should 
and hath Zearwed of 'the Father, comethunto me. heal them. Acts xxviii. 25. And when 
^ Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were dead in they agreed not among themselves, they 
sins, hath quickened us together with Christ; departed, after that Paul had spoken one 
(by grace ye are saved.) Phil. ii. 13. For word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias 
it is God which worketh in you, both to will the prophet unto our fathers, Ver. 26. 
and to do of his good pleasure. Deut.xxx. 6. Saying, Go unto this people, and say, 
And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not under- 
heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the stand; and seeing ye shall see, and not 
Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with perceive: Ver. 27. For the heart of this 
all thy soul, that thou mayest live. people is waxed gross, and their ears are 

■ 68. p Acts xiii. 48. And when the Gen- dull of hearing, and their eyes have they 
tiles heard this, they were glad, and glo- closed: lest they should see with their eyes, 
rifled the word of the Lord : and as many and hear with their ears, and understand 
as were ordained to eternal life believed. with their heart, and should be converted, 

<J Matt. xxii. 14. For many are called, and I should heal them. John vi. 64. But 
™ few are chosen. there are some of you that believe not. 

r Matt. vn. 22. Many will say to me in For Jesus knew from the beginning who 
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophe- they were that believed not, and who should 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



163 



Q. 69. What is the communion in grace which the members 
of the invisible church have with Christ ? 

A. The communion in grace which the members of the 
invisible church have with Christ, is their partaking of the 
virtue of his mediation, in their justification,* adoption/ 
sanctification, and whatever else, in this life, manifests their 
union with him. w 

Q. 70. What is justification? 

A. Justification is an act of God's free grace unto sin- 
ners/ in which he pardoneth all their sins, accepteth and 
accounteth their persons righteous in his sight; 7 not for 
any thing wrought in them, or done by them, z but only for 
the perfect obedience and full satisfaction of Christ, by God 
imputed to them, a and received by faith alone. b 



betray him. Ver. 65. And he said, There- 
fore said I unto you, that no man can come 
unto me, except it were given unto him of 
my Father. Ps. lxxxi. 11. But my people 
would not hearken to my voice ; and Israel 
would none of me. Ver. 12. So 1 gave them 
up unto their own hearts' lust: and they 
walked in their own counsels. 

69. t Bom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he 
did predestinate, them he also called ; and 
whom he called, them he also justified ; and 
whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

v Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us 
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ 
to himself, according to the good pleasure 
of his will. 

w 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are ye in 
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us 
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, 
and redemption. 

70. x Bom. iii. ,22. Even the righteous- 
ness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ 
unto all and upon all them that believe; for 
there is no difference: Ver. 24. Being 
justified freely by his grace, through the 
redemption that is in Christ Jesus ; Ver. 
25. Whom God hath set forth to be a 
propitiation through faith in his blood, to 
declare his righteousness for the remission 
of sins that are past, through the forbear- 
ance of God. Rom. iv. 5. But to him that 
worketh not, but believeth on him that 
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted 
for righteousness. 

y 2 Cor. v. 19. To wit, that God was in 
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, 
not imputing their trespasses unto them ; and 
hath committed unto us the word of re- 
conciliation. Ver. 21. For he hath made 
him to be sin for us, who knew no sin ; 



that we might be made the righteousness of 
God in him. Bom. iii. 22: Even the 
righteousness of God which is by faith of 
Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them 
that believe; for there is no difference. 
Ver. 24. Being justified freely by his 
grace, through the redemption that is in 
Christ Jesus ; Ver. 25.. Whom God hath 
set forth to be a propitiation through faith 
in his blood, to declare his righteousness 
for the remission of sins that are past, 
through the forbearance of God. Ver. 27. 
Where is boasting then ? It is excluded. 
By what law ? of works ? Nay ; but by 
the law of faith. Ver. 28. Therefore we 
conclude, that a man is justified by faith 
without the deeds of the law. 

z Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteous- 
ness which we have done, but according to 
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of 
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost. *Ver. 7. That, being justified by 
his grace, we should be made heirs accord- 
ing to the hope of eternal life. Eph. i. 7. 
In whom we have redemption through his 
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to 
the riches of his grace. 

a* Rom. v. 17. For if by one man's 
offence death reigned by one ; much more 
they which receive abundance of grace, and 
of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in 
life by one, Jesus Christ, Ver. 18. There- 
fore, as by the offence of one judgment 
came upon all men to condemnation ; even 
so by the righteousness of one the free gift 
came upon all men unto justification of life. 
Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience 
many were made sinners; so by the obe- 
dience of one shall many be made righteous. 
Rom. iv. 6. Even as David also describeth 



1G4 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 71. How is justification an act of God's free grace? 

A. Although Christ, by his obedience and death, did make 
a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in the be- 
half of them that are justified ; c yet in as much as God ac- 
cepteth the satisfaction from a surety, which he might have 
demanded of them, and did provide this surety, his own only 
Son/ imputing his righteousness to them, 6 and requiring 



the blessedness of the man unto whom God 
imputeth righteousness without works, Ver. 
7. Saying, Blessed are they whose ini- 
quities are forgiven, and whose sins are 
covered. Ver. 8. Blessed is the man to 
whom the Lord will not impute sin. 

b Acts x. 43. To him give all the pro- 
phets witness, that, through his name, 
whosoever believeth in him shall receive re- 
mission of sins. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that 
a man is not justified by the works of the 
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even 
we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we 
might be justified by the faith of Christ, and 
not by the works of the law : for by the 
works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 
Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not 
having mine own righteousness, which is 
of the law, but that which is through the 
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of 
God by faith. 

71. c Bom. v. 8. But God commendeth 
his love toward us, in that, while we were 
yet sinners, Christ died for us. Ver. 9. 
Much more then, being now justified by 
his blood, we shall be saved from wrath 
through him. Ver. 10. For if, when we 
were enemies, we were reconciled to God 
by the death of his Son ; much more, being 
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 
Ver. 19. For as by one man's disobedience 
many were made sinners ; so by the obe- 
dience of one shall many be made righteous. 

d 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, 
and one mediator between God and men, 
the man Christ Jesus ; Ver. 6. Who gave 
himself a ransom for all, to be testified in 
due time. Heb. x. 10. By the which will 
we are sanctified, through the offering of the 
body of Jesus Christ once for all. Matt, 
xx. 28. Even as the Son of man came not 
to be ministered unto, but to minister, 
and to give his life a ransom for many. Dan. 
ix. 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon 
thy people, and upon thy holy city, to 
finish the transgression, and to make an 
end of sins, and to make reconciliation for 
iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righte- 
ousness, and to seal up the vision and pro- 
phecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Ver. 



26. And after threescore and two weeks 
shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: 
and the people of the prince that shall 
come shall destroy the city and the sanc- 
tuary ; and the end thereof shall be with 
a flood, and unto the end of the war deso- 
lations are determined. Isa. liii. 4. Surely 
he hath borne our griefs, and carried our 
sorrows : yet we did esteem him stricken, 
smitten of God, and afflicted. Ver. 5. 
But he was wounded for our transgressions, 
he was bruised for our iniquities: the chas- 
tisement of our peace was upon him ; and 
with his stripes we are healed. Ver. 6. All' 
we, like sheep, have gone astray ; we have 
turned every one to his own way; and 
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of 
us all. Ver. 10. Yet it pleased the Lord 
to bruise him ; he hath put him to grief : 
when thou shalt make his soul an offering 
for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall pro- 
long his days, and the pleasure of the Lord 
shall prosper in his hand. Ver. 11. He 
shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall 
be satisfied : by his knowledge shall my 
righteous servant justify many ; for he 
shall bear their iniquities. Ver. 12. There- 
fore will I divide him a portion with the 
great, and he shall divide the spoil with 
the strong ; because he hath poured out his 
soul unto death: and he was numbered 
with the transgressors ; and he bare the 
sin of many, and made intercession for the 
transgressors. Heb. vii. 22. By so much 
was Jesus made a surety of a better testa- 
ment. Rom. viii. 32. He that spared not 
his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, 
how shall he not with him also freely give 
us all things? 1 Pet. i. 18. Forasmuch 
as ye know that ye were not redeemed 
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 
from your vain conversation received by 
tradition from your fathers; Ver. 19. 
But with the precious blood of Christ, as 
of a lamb without blemish and without 
spot. 

e 2 Cor. v. 21. For he hath made him to 
be sin for us, who knew no sin ; that we 
might be made the righteousness of God in 
him. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



165 



nothing of them for their justification but faith/ which also 
is his gift/ their justification is to them of free grace. h 
Q. 72. What is justifying faith ? 

A. Justifying faith is a saving grace/ wrought in the 
heart of a sinner by the Spirit* and word of God, 1 whereby 
he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the dis- 
ability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out 
of his lost condition, 111 not only assenteth to the truth of the 
promise of the gospel, 11 but receiveth and resteth upon 
Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon 
of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person 
righteous in the sight of God for salvation? 

Q. 73. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God? 

A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not be- 
cause of those other graces which do always accompany it, 



f Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by 
his grace, through the redemption that is 
in Christ Jesus ; Ver. 25. Whom God 
hath set forth to be a propitiation through 
faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- 
ness for the remission of sins that are past, 
through the forbearance of God. 

g Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye saved, 
through faith ; and that not of yourselves : 
it is the gift of God. 

h Eph. i. 7. In whom we have redemption 
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, 
according to the riches of his grace. 

72. 1 Heb. x. 39. But we are not of 
them who draw back unto perdition ; but 
of them that believe to the saving of the soul. 

k 2 Cor. iv. 13. We having the same 
spirit of faith, according as it is written, I 
believed, and therefore have I spoken ; we 
also believe, and therefore speak. Eph. i. 
17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the Father of glory, may give unto you the 
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the know- 
ledge of him : Ver. 18. The eyes of your 
understanding being enlightened; that ye 
may know what is the hope of his calling, 
and what the riches of the glory of his in- 
heritance in the saints, Ver. 19. And what 
is the exceeding greatness of his power to 
us-ward who believe, according to the working 
of his mighty power. 

1 Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call 
on him in whom they have not believed ? 
and how shall they believe in him of whom 
they have not heard ? and how shall they 
hear without a preacher ? *Ver. 17. So 
then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing 
by the word of God. 



m Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, 
they were pricked in their heart, and said 
unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, 
Men and brethren, what shall we do ? Acts 
xvi. 30. And brought them out, and said, 
Sirs, what must I do to be saved ? John 
xvi. 8. And when he is come, he will re- 
prove the world of sin, and of righteousness, 
and of judgment : Ver. 9. Of sin, because 
they believe not on me. Rom. v. 6. For 
when we were yet without strength, in due 
time Christ died for the ungodly. Eph. 

11. 1. And you hath he quickened, who 
were dead in trespasses and sins. Acts iv. 

12. Neither is there salvation in any other : 
for there is none other name under heaven 
given among men whereby we must be saved. 

n Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted, 
after that ye heard the word of truth, the 
gospel of your salvation : in whom also, 
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with 
that Holy Spirit of promise. 

John i. 12. But as many as received 
him, to them gave he power to become the 
sods of God, even to them that believe on 
his name. Acts xvi. 31. And they said, 
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
shalt be saved, and thy house. Acts x. 43. 
To him give all the prophets witness, that, 
through his name, whosoever believeth in 
him shall receive remission of sins. 

p Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not 
having mine own righteousness, which is of 
the law, but that which is through the 
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of 
God by faith. Acts xv. 11. But we believe 
that, through the grace of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, we shall be saved, even as they. 



166 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



or of good works that are the fruits of it,* nor as if the grace 
of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his jus- 
tification ; r but only as it is an instrument by which he re- 
ceiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness. 8 
Q. 74. What is adoption? 

A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God,* in and 
for his only Son Jesus Christ/ whereby all those that are 
justified are received into the number of his children/ have 
his name put upon them/ the Spirit of his Son given to 
them/ are under his fatherly care and dispensations/ ad- 
mitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, 
made heirs of all the promises, and fellow-heirs with Christ 
in glory . a 

Q. 75. What is sanctification ? 

A. Sanctification is a work of God's grace, whereby they 
whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen 
to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of 



73. q Gal. iii. 11. But that no man is 
justified by the law in the sight of God, it is 
evident : for, The just shall live by faith. 
Rom. iii. 28. Therefore we conclude, that 
a man is .justified by faith without the deeds 
of the law. 

1 Rom. iv. 5. But to him that worketh 
not, but believeth on him that justifieth 
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righte- 
ousness. Compared with Rom. x. 10. For 
with the heart man believeth unto righteous- 
ness ; and with the mouth confession is 
made unto salvation. 

s John i. 12. But as many as received 
him, to them gave he power to become the 
sons of God, even to them that believe on his 
name. Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, 
not having mine own righteousness, which 
is of the law, but that which is through 
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which 
is of God by faith. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing 
that a man is not justified by the works 
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, 
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, 
that we might be justified by the faith of 
Christ, and not by the works of the law : 
for by the works of the law shall no flesh 
be justified. 

74. » 1 John iii. 1. Behold what manner 
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, 
that we should be called the sons of God ! 

v Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us 
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ 
to himself, according to the good pleasure 
of his will. Gal. iv. 4. But when the ful- 
ness of the time was come, God sent forth 



his Son, made of a woman, made under 
the law, Ver. 5. To redeem them that 
were under the law, that we might receive 
the adoption of sons. 

w John i. 1 2. But as many as received 
him, to them gave he power to become the 
sons of God, even to them that believe on 
his name. 

x 2 Cor. vi. 18. And will be a Father 
unto you, and ye shall be my sons and 
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Bev. 
iii. 12. Him that overcometh will I make 
a pillar in the temple of my God, and he 
shall go no more out : and / will write 
upon him the name of my God, and the 
name of the city of my God, which is new 
Jerusalem, which cometh down out of hea- 
ven from my God ; and / will write upon 
him my new name. 

y Gal. iv. 6. And because ye are sons, 
God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son 
into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

z Ps. ciii. 13. Like as a father pitieth 
his children, so the Lord pitieth them that 
fear him. Pro v. xiv. 26. In the fear of 
the Lord is strong confidence; and his 
children shall have a place of refuge. Matt, 
vi. 32. For your heavenly Father hnoweth 
that ye have need of all these things. 

a Heb. vi. 12. That ye be not slothful, 
but followers of them who through faith 
and patience inherit the promises. Bom. 
viii. 17. And if children, then heirs ; heirs 
of God, and joint heirs with Christ : if so 
be that we suffer with him, that we may 
be also glorified together. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



167 



his Spirits applying the death and resurrection of Christ 
unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of 
God; d having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all 
other saving graces, put into their hearts, 6 and those graces 
so stirred up, increased, and strengthened/ as that they 
more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life. g 

Q. 76. What is repentance unto life ? 

A. Eepentance unto life is a saving grace/ wrought in 
the heart of a sinner by the Spirit 1 and word of Grod, k where- 



75. b Eph. i. 4. According as he hath 
chosen us in him before the foundation of the 
world, that we should be holy and without 
blame before him in love. 1 Cor. vi. 11. 
And such were some of you : but ye are 
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are 
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
and by the Spirit of our God. 2 Thess. ii. 
13. But we are bound to give thanks 
alway to God for you, brethren, beloved 
of the Lord, because God hath from the 
beginning chosen you to salvation through 
sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the 
truth. 

c Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried 
with him by baptism into death ; that like 
as Christ was raised up from the dead by 
the glory of the Father, even so we also 
should walk in newness of life. Ver. 5. 
For if we have been planted together in 
the likeness of his death, we shall be also in 
the likeness of his resurrection : Ver. 6. 
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified 
with him, that the body of sin might be 
destroyed, that henceforth we should not 
serve sin. 

d Eph. iv. 23. And be renewed in the 
spirit of your mind ; Ver. 24. And that 
ye put on the new man, which after God is 
created in righteousness and true holiness. 

e Acts xi. 18. When they heard these 
things, they held their peace, and glorified 
God, saying, Then hath God also to the 
Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 1 John 
iii. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not 
commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him : 
and he cannot sin, because he is born of 
God. 

f Jude, Ver. 20. But ye, beloved, building 
up yourselves on your most holy faith, 
praying in the Holy Ghost. Heb. vi. 11. 
And we desire that every one of you do 
shew the same diligence, to the full assur- 
ance of hope unto the end : Ver. 1 2. That 
ye be not slothful, but followers of them who 
through faith and patience inherit the 
promises. Eph. iii. 16. That he would 



grant you, according to the riches of his 
glory, to be strengthened with might by his 
Spirit in the inner man; Ver. 17. That 
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; 
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 
Ver. 18. May be able to comprehend with 
all saints what is the breadth, and length, 
and depth, and height; Ver. 19. And to 
know the love of Christ, which passeth 
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all 
the fulness of God. Col. i. 10. That ye 
might walk worthy of the Lord unto all 
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, 
and increasing in the knowledge of God; 
Ver. 11. Strengthened with all might, ac- 
cording to his glorious power, unto all 
patience and long-suffering with joy fulness. 

s Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried 
with him by baptism into death ; that like 
as Christ was raised up from the dead by 
the glory of the Father, even so we also 
should walk in newness of life. Ver. 6. 
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified 
with him, that the body of sin might be de- 
stroyed, that henceforth we should not serve 
sin. Ver. 14. For sin shall not have do- 
minion over you : for ye are not under the 
law, but under grace. Gal. v. 24. And 
they that are Christ's have crucified the 
flesh, with the affections and lusts. 

76. h 2 Tim. ii. 25. In meekness in- 
structing those that oppose themselves ; if 
God peradventure will give them repentance 
to the acknowledging of the truth. 

1 Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon 
the house of David, and upon the inha- 
bitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace 
and of supplications ; and they shall look 
upon me whom they have pierced, and 
they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth 
for his only son, and shall be in bitterness 
for him, as one that is in bitterness for 
his first-born. 

k Acts xi. 18. When they heard these 
things, they held their peace, and glorified 
God, saying, Then hath God also to the 
Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Ver. 



163 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



by, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, 1 but 
also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, m and upon 
the apprehension of God's mercy in Christ to such as are 
penitent/ he so grieves for and hates his sins/ as that he 
turns from them all to God, q purposing and endeavouring 
constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obe- 
dience. 1 ' 



20. And some of them were men of Cyprus 
and Cyrene. which, when they were come 
to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, 
preaching the Lord Jesus. Ver. 21. And 
the hand of the Lord was with them : and 
a great number believed, and turned unto 
the Lord. 

1 Ezek. xviii. 28. Because he considereth, 
and turneth away from all his transgres- 
sions that he hath committed, he shall 
surely live, he shall not die. Ver. 30. 
Therefore I will judge you, house of 
Israel, every one according to his ways, 
saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn 
yourselves from all your transgressions ; 
so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Ver. 32. 
For I have no pleasure in the death of 
him that dieth, saith the Lord God : where- 
fore turn yourselves, and live ye. Luke xv. 
17. And when he came to himself, he said, 
How many hired servants of my father's 
have bread enough, and to spare, and / 
peiish with hunger ! Ver. 18. I will arise, 
and go to my Father, and will say unto 
him, Father, I have sinned against hea- 
ven, and before thee. Hos. ii. 6. There- 
fore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with 
thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not 
find her paths. Ver. 7. And she shall 
follow after her lovers, but she shall not 
overtake them ; and she shall seek them, 
but shall not find them: then shall she 
say, / will go and return to my first hus- 
band; for then was it better with me than 
noio. 

m Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then shall ye re- 
member your own evil ways, and your 
doings that were not good, and shall loathe 
yourselves in your own sight, for your ini- 
quities, and for your abominations. Isa. 
xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also the covering 
of thy graven images of silver, and the 
ornament of thy molten images of gold : 
thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous 
cloth ; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. 

n Joel ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith 
the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your 
heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, 
and with mourning; Ver. 13. And rend 
your heart, and not your garments, and 



turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gra- 
cious and merciful, sloio to anger, and of 
great kindness, and repenteth him of the 
evil. 

Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard 

Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou 
hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as 
a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn 
thou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou 
art the Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely 
after that I was turned, I repented ; and 
after that I was instructed, I smote upon 
my thigh : I was ashamed, yea, even con- 
founded, because I did bear the reproach 
of my youth. 

p 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this self- 
same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly 
sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, 
yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, 
what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, 
what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, 
what revenge ! In all things ye have 
approved yourselves to be clear in this 
matter. 

1 Actsxxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and 

to turn them from darkness to light, and 
from the power of Satan unto God, that they 
may receive forgiveness of sins, and inhe- 
ritance among them which are sanctified 
by faith that is in me. Ezek. xiv. 6. 
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, 
Thus saith the Lord God, Repent, and turn 
yourselves from your idols ; and turn away 
your faces from all your abominations. 
1 Kings viii. 47. Yet if they shall bethink 
themselves in the land whither they were 
carried captives, and repent, and make 
supplication unto thee in the land of them 
that carried them captives, saying, We 
have sinned, and have done perversely, 
we have committed wickedness ; Ver. 48. 
And so return unto thee with all their heart, 
and with all their soul. 

1 Ps. cxix. 6. Then shall I not be 
ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy 
commandments. Ver. 59. I thought on 
my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testi- 
monies. Ver. 128. Therefore I esteem all 
thy precepts concerning all things to be 
right ; and I hate every false way. Luke 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 169 

Q. 77. Wherein do justification and sanctification differ? 

A. Although sanctification be inseparably joined with 
justification/ yet they differ, in that God in justification 
imputeth the righteousness of Christ ;* in sanctification his 
Spirit infuseth grace, and enableth to the exercise thereof ; v 
in the former, sin is pardoned ; w in the other, it is subdued : x 
the one doth equally free all believers from the revenging 
wrath of God, and that perfectly in this life, that they never 
fall into condemnation ; y the other is neither equal in all, 2 
nor in this life perfect in any, a but growing up to perfec- 
tion. 15 



i. 6. And they were both righteous before 
God, walking in all the commandments and 
ordinances of the Lord blameless. 2 Kings 
xxiii. 25. And like unto him was there 
no king before him, that turned to the Lord 
with all his heart, and with all his soul, and 
with all his might, according to all the law 
of 3Ioses: neither after him arose there 
any like him. 

77. s 1 Cor. vi. 11. And such were 
some of you : but ye are washed, but ye 
are sanctified, but ye are justified in the 
name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit 
of our God. 1 Cor. i. 30. But of him are 
ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made 
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and 
sanctification, and redemption. 

t Kom. iv. 6. Even as David also de- 
scribeth the blessedness of the man unto 
whom God imputeth righteousness without 
works. Ver. 8. Blessed is the man to 
whom the Lord will not impute sin. 

v Ezek. xxxvi. 27. And I will put my 
Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in 
my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, 
and do them. 

w Kom, iii. 24. Being justified freely by 
Ms grace, through the redemption that is 
in Christ Jesus; Ver. 25. Whom God 
hath set forth to be a propitiation through 
faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- 
ness for the remission of sins that are past, 
through the forbearance of God, 

x Bom. vi. 6. Knowing this, that our old 
man is crucified with him, that the body of 
sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we 
should not serve sin. Ver. 14. For sin shall 
not have dominion over you: for ye are not 
under the law, but under grace. 

yRom. viii. 33. Who shall lay any 
thing to the charge of God's elect ? It is 
God that justifieth; Ver. 34. Who is he 
that condemneth ? It is Christ that died, 
yea rather, that is risen again, who is even 



at the right hand of God, who also maketh 
intercession for us. 

z l John ii. 12. I write unto you, little 
children, because your sins are forgiven you 
for his name's sake. Ver. 13.1 write unto 
you, fathers, because ye have known him 
that is from the beginning. I write unto 
you, young men, because ye have overcome 
the wicked one. I write unto you, little 
eMe?rera, because ye have known the Father. 
Ver. 14. I have written unto you, fathers, 
because ye have known him that is from 
the beginning. I have written unto you, 
young men, because ye are strong, and the 
word of God abideth in you, and ye have 
overcome the wicked one. Heb. v. 12. For 
when for the time ye ought to be teachers, 
ye have need that one teach you again 
which be the first principles of the oracles 
of God ; and are become such as have need 
of milk, and not of strong meat. Ver. 13. 
For every one that useth milk is unskilful 
in the word of righteousness ; for he is a babe. 
Ver. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them 
that are of full age, even those who by rea- 
son of use have their senses exercised to dis- 
cern both good and evil. 

a 1 John i. 8. If we say that we have no 
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not 
in us. Ver. 10. If we say that we have 
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word 
is not in us. 

b 2 Cor. vii. 1. Having therefore these 
promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse 
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and 
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 
Phil. iii. 12. Not as though I had already 
attained, either were already perfect ; but 
/ follow after, if that I may apprehend that 
for which also I am apprehended of Christ 
Jesus. Ver. 13. Brethren, I count not 
myself to have apprehended : but this one 
thing I do, forgetting those things which 
are behind, and reaching forth unto those 



170 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 78. Whence ariseth the imperfection of sanctification in 

believers? 

A. The imperfection of sanctification in believers ariseth 
from the remnants of sin abiding in every part of them, and 
the perpetual lustings of the flesh against the spirit ; where- 
by they are often foiled with temptations, and fall into many 
sins/ are hindered in all their spiritual services/ and their 
best works are imperfect and defiled in the sight of God. 

Q. 79. May not true believers, by reason of their imperfec 
tions, and the many temptations and sins they are overtaken 
with, fall away from the state of grace f 

A, True believers, by reason of the unchangeable love o 
God/ and his decree and covenant to give them persever- 
ance/ their inseparable union with Christ/ his continual in 
tercession for them, 1 and the Spirit and seed of God abidin 



things which are before, Ver. 14. I press 
toward the mark, for the prize of the high 
calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

78. c Rom. vii. 18. For I know that in 
me {that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good 
thing : for to will is present with me ; but 
how to perform that which is good I find not. 
Ver. 23. But I see another law in my mem- 
hers warring against the law of my mind, 
and bringing me into captivity to the law of 
sin which is in my members. Mark xiv. 
66 to the end. And as Peter was beneath 
in the palace, there cometh one of the 
maids of the high priest, &c. Gal. ii. 11. 
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I 
withstood him to the face, because he was 
to be blamed. Ver. 12. For before that 
certain came from James, he did eat with 
the Gentiles : but when they were come, 
he withdrew, and separated himself, fearing 
them which were of the circumcision. 

dHeb. xii. 1. Wherefore, seeing we also 
are compassed about with so great a cloud 
of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, 
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and 
let us run with patience the race that is 
set before us. 

e Isa. lxiv. 6. But we are all as an un- 
clean thing, and all our righteousnesses are 
as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a 
leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, 
have taken us away. Exod. xxviii. 38. 
And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, 
that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the 
holy things, which the children of Israel 
shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it 
shall be always upon his forehead, that they 
may be accepted before the Lord. 



79. f Jer. xxxi. 3. The Lord hath ap- 
peared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have 
loved thee with an everlasting love ; there- 
fore with loving-kindness have I drawn 
thee. 

g2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless the foun- 
dation of God standeth sure, having thit. 
seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. 
And, Let every one that nameth the name 
of Christ depart from iniquity. Heb. xiii. 
20. Now the God of peace, that brought 
again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that 
great Shepherd of the sheep, through the 
blood of the everlasting covenant, Ver. 21. 
Make you perfect in every good work to do 
his will, working in you that which is 
well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus 
Christ ; to whom be glory for ever and 
ever. Amen. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Al- 
though my house be not so with God ; 
yet he hath made with me an everlasting 
covenant, ordered in all things, and sure : 
for this is all my salvation, and all 
my desire, although he make it not to 
grow. 

h 1 Cor. i. 8. Who shall also confirm you 
unto the end, that ye may be blameless in 
the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ver. 
9. God is faithful, by whom ye were called 
unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 

iHeb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also 
to save them to the uttermost that come unto 
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make 
intercession for them. Luke xxii. 32. 
But L have prayed for thee, that thy faith 
fail not: and when thou art converted, 
strengthen thy brethren. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



171 



in them, k can neither totally nor finally fall away from the 
state of grace, 1 but are kept by the power of God through 
faith unto salvation. m 

Q. 80. Can true believers be infallibly assured that they are 
in the estate of grace, and that they shall persevere therein unto 
salvation ? 

A, Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavour to walk 
in all good conscience before him, n may, without extraordi- 
nary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God's 
promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in 
themselves those graces to which the promises of life are 
made, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are 
the children of God, p be infallibly assured that they are in the 
estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation. q 

Q. 81. Are all true believers at all times assured of their 
present being in the estate of grace, and that they shall be 
saved? 

A. Assurance of grace and salvation not being of the 
essence of faith/ true believers may wait long before they 



k 1 John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of 
God doth not commit sin ; for his seed re- 
maineth in him : and he cannot sin, because 
he is born of God. 1 John ii. 27. But the 
anointing which ye have received of him 
abideth in you ; and ye need not that any 
man teach you : but as the same anointing 
teacheth you of all things, and is truth, 
and is no lie, and even as it hath taught 
you, ye shall abide in him. 

iJer. xxxii. 40. And I will make an 
everlasting covenant with them, that I 
will not turn away from them, to do them 
good; but I will put my fear in their 
hearts, that they shall not depart from me. 
John x. 28. And I give unto them eternal 
life ; and they shall never perish, neither 
shall any pluck them out of my hand. 

m 1 Pet. i. 5. Who are kept by the power 
of God through faith unto salvation, ready to 
be revealed in the last time. 

80. n 1 John ii. 3. And hereby we do know 
that we know him, if we keep his command- 
ments. 

°1 Cor. ii. 12. Now we have received, 
not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit 
which is of God; that we might know the 
things that are freely given to us of God. 
1 John iii. 14. We know that we have passed 
from death unto life, because we love the 
brethren: he that loveth not his brother 
abideth in death. Ver. 18. My little 



children, let us not love in word, neither 
in tongue; but in deed, and in truth. 
Ver. 19. And hereby we know that we are 
of the truth, and shall assure our hearts be- 
fore him. Ver. 21. Beloved, if our heart 
condemn us not, then have we confidence to- 
ward God. Ver. 24. And he that keepeth 
his commandments dwelleth in him, and he 
in him : and hereby we know that he abideth 
in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 
1 John iv. 13. Hereby know we that we 
dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath 
given us of his Spirit. Ver. 16. And vje 
have known and believed the love that God 
hath to us. God is love ; and he that 
dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in 
him. Heb. vi. 11. And we desire that 
every one of you do shew the same dili- 
gence, to the full assurance of hope unto the 
end : Ver. 12. That ye be not slothful, 
but followers of them who through faith 
and patience inherit the promises. 

p Rom. viii. 16. The Spirit itself 'beareth 
witness with our spirit, that we are the 
children of God. 

1 1 John v. 1 3. These things have I writ- 
ten unto you that believe on the name of 
the Son of God, that ye may know that ye 
have eternal life, and that ye may believe 
on the name of the Son of God. 

81. r Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted, 
after that ye heard the word of truth, the 



172 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



obtain it; s and, after the enjoyment thereof, may have 
it weakened and intermitted, through manifold distempers, 
sins, temptations, and desertions ; * yet are the^ never left 
without such a presence and support of the Spirit of God as 
keeps them from sinking into utter despair/ 

Q. 82. What is the communion in glory which the members 
of the invisible church have with Christ ? 

A. The communion in glory which the members of the 
invisible church have with Christ, is in this life/ immedi- 



gospel of your salvation : in whom also, 
after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that 
Holy Spirit of promise. 

s Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that 
feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice 
of his servant, that walketh in darkness, 
and hath no light f let him trust in the name 
of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Ps. 
lxxxviii. throughout. Ver. 1. Lord God 
of my salvation, I have cried day and ni r " 
before thee. Ver. 2. Let my prayer come 
before thee : incline thine ear unto my 
cry; Ver. 3. For my soul is full of 
troubles, and my life draweth nigh unto the 
grave. Ver. 6. Thou hast laid me in the 
lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Ver. 
7. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and 
thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. 
Selah. Ver. 9. Mine eye mourneth by 
reason of affliction: Lord, I have called 
daily upon thee ; I have stretched out my 
hands unto thee. Ver. 10. Wilt thou 
shew wonders to the dead ? Ver. 13. 
But unto thee have 1 cried, Lord ; and 
in the morning shall my prayer prevent 
thee. Ver. 14. Lord, why easiest thou off 
my soid ? why hidest thou thy face from 
me ? Ver. 15. I am afflicted and ready to 
die from my youth up : while I suffer thy 
terrors I am distracted, etc. 

* [Ps. Ixxvii. 1 to the 12th Verse.] Ver. 
1. I cried unto God with my voice, even 
unto God with my voice ; and he gave ear 
unto me. Ver. 2. In the day of my trouble 
I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the 
night, and ceased not : my soul refused to 
be comforted. Ver. 3. I remembered God, 
and was troubled: I complained, and my 
spirit was overwhelmed. Ver. 7. Will the 
Lord cast off for ever? and will he be fa- 
vourable no more ? etc. Cant. v. 2. I sleep, 
but my heart waketh : it is the voice of 
my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open 
to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my 
undefiled : for my head is filled with dew, 
and my locks with the drops of the night. 
Ver. 3. I have put off my coat ; how shall 



I put it on ? I have washed my feet ; 
how shall I defile them ? Ver. 6. I opened 
to my beloved; but my beloved had with- 
drawn himself, and was gone ; my soul failed 
when he spake : I sought him, but I could 
not find him ; I called him, but he gave me 
no answer. Ps. li. 8. Make me to hear joy 
and gladness; that the bones which thou 
hast broken may rejoice. Ver. 12. Restore 
unto me the joy of thy salvation ; and up- 
hold me with thy free Spirit. Ps. xxxi. 
22. For / said in my haste, I am cut off 
from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou 
heardest the voice of my supplications 
when I cried unto thee. Ps. xxii. 1. My 
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? 
why art thou so far from helping me, and 
from the words of my roaring ? 

v l John iii. 9. Whosoever is born of 
God doth not commit sin ; for his seed re- 
maineth in him : and he cannot sin, because 
he is born of God. Job xiii. 15. Though 
he slay me, yet will 1 trust in him : but I 
will maintain mine own ways before him. 
Ps. lxxiii. 15. If I say, I will speak thus ; 
behold, I should offend against the genera- 
tion of thy children. Ver. 23. Neverthe- 
less I am continually with thee ; thou hast 
holden me by my right hand. Isa. liv. 7. 
For a small moment have 1 forsaken thee ; 
but with great mercies will I gather thee. 
Ver. 8. In a little wrath 1 hid my face from 
thee for a moment; but with everlasting 
kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the 
Lord thy Kedeemer. Ver. 9. For this is 
as the waters of Noah unto me : for as I 
have sworn that the waters of Noah should 
no more go over the earth; so have I sworn 
that I would not be wroth with thee, nor re- 
buke thee. Ver. 10. For the mountains 
shall depart, and the hills be removed; 
but my kindness shall not depart from thee, 
neither shall the covenant of my peace be re- 
moved, saith the Lord that hath mercy on 
thee. 

82. » 2 Cor. iii. 18. But we all, with open 
face beholding as in a glass the glory of the 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



173 



ately after death/ and at last perfected at the resurrection 
and day of judgment. 7 

Q. 83. What is the communion in glory with Christ which 
the members of the invisible church enjoy in this life f 

A. The members of the invisible church have communi- 
cated to them in this life the first-fruits of glory with Christ, 
as they are members of him their head, and so in him are 
interested in that glory which he is fully possessed of ; z and, 
as an earnest thereof, enjoy the sense of God's love, a peace 
of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, and hope of glory ; b 
as, on the contrary, sense of God's revenging wrath, horror 
of conscience, and a fearful expectation of judgment, are to 
the wicked the beginning of their torments which they shall 
endure after death. 

Q. 84. Shall all men die f 

A, Death being threatened as the wages of sin, d it is 
appointed unto all men once to die; 6 for that all have 
sinned. f 

Q. 85. Death, being the wages of sin, why are not the 
righteous delivered from death, seeing all their sins are forgiven 
in Christ? 

A. The righteous shall be delivered from death itself at 
the last day, and even in death are delivered from the sting 

Lord, are changed into the same image, wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the 

from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit glory of God. Rom.xiv. 17. For the kingdom 

of the Lord. of God is not meat and drink ; but righte- 

x Lukexxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto ousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy 



him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt 

thou be with me in paradise." c Gen. iv. 13. And Cain said unto the 

yl Thess. iv. 17. Then we which are Lord, My punishment is greater than I can 

alive and remain shall be caught up to- bear. Matt, xxvii. 4. Saying, I have 

gether with them in the clouds, to meet the sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent 

Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be blood. And they said, What is that to us ? 

with the Lord. see thou to that. Heb. x. 27. But a cer- 

83. z Eph. ii. 5. Even when we were tain fearful looking for of judgment and 

dead in sins, hath quickened us together fiery indignation, which shall devour the 

with Christ; (by grace ye are saved ;) Ver. adversaries. Eom. ii. 9. Tribulation and 

6. And hath raised us up together, and made anguish, wpon every soul of man that doeth 

us sit together in heavenly places in Christ evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gen- 

Jesus. tile. Mark ix. 44. Where their worm 

a Rom. v. 5. And hope maketh not dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

ashamed; because the love of God is shed 84. d Rom. vi. 23. For the wages of sin 

abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, is death ; but the gift of God is eternal 

which is given unto us. Compared with life through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

2 Cor. i. 22. Who hath also sealed us, and e Heb. ix. 27. And as it is appointed unto 

given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts, men once to die, but after this the judgment. 

b Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justified f Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one man 

by faith, we have peace with God, through sin entered into the world, and death by 

our Lord Jesus Christ : Ver. 2. By whom sin ; and so death passed upon all men, for 

also we have access by faith into this grace that all have sinned. 



174 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



and curse of it f so that, although they die, yet it is out of 
God's love, h to free them perfectly from sin and misery/ and 
to make them capable of further communion with Christ in 
glory, which they then enter upon. k 

Q. 86. What is the communion in glory with Christ, which 
the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after 
death f 

A. The communion in glory with Christ, which the mem- 
bers of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, 
is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, 1 and 
received into the highest heavens, 111 where they behold the 
face of God in light and glory, n waiting for the full redemp- 
tion of their bodies, which even in death continue united to 



85. e 1 Cor. xv. 26. The last enemy that 
shall be destroyed is death. * Ver. 55. 
death, where is thy sting 9 grave, where is 
thy victory ? Ver. 56. The sting of death 
is sin ; and the strength of sin is the law. 
Ver. 57. But thanks be to God, which 
giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Heb. ii. 15. And deliver them who 
through fear of death were all their lifetime 
subject to bondage. 

h Isa. lvii. 1. The righteous perisheth, 
and no man layeth it to heart ; and mer- 
ciful men are taken away, none consider- 
ing that the righteous is taken away from 
the evil to come. Ver. 2. He shall enter 
into peace: they shall rest in their beds, 
each one walking in his uprightness. 
2 Kings xxii. 20. Behold, therefore, I will 
gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou 
shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace ; 
and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which 
I will bring upon this place. 

1 Rev. xiv. 13. And I heard a voice 
from heaven saying unto me, Write, 
Blessed are the dead which die in the 
Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the 
Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; 
and their works do follow them. Eph. v. 
27. That he might present it to himself a 
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, 
or any such thing ; but that it should be 
holy, and without blemish. 

k Luke xxiii. 43. And Jesus said unto 
him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt 
thou be with me in paradise. Phil. i. 23. 
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having 
a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, 
which is far better. 

86. 1 Heb. xii. 23. To the general as- 
sembly and church of the first-born, which 
are written in heaven, and to God the 



Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men 
made perfect. 

m 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know, that, if 
our earthly house of this tabernacle were 
dissolved, we have a building of God, an 
house not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens. Ver. 6. Therefore we are al- 
ways confident, knowing that, whilst we 
are at home in the body, we are absent 
from the Lord. Ver. 8. We are con- 
fident, I say, and willing rather to be 
absent from the body, and to be present 
with the Lord. Phil. i. 23. For I am in 
a strait betwixt two, having a desire 
to depart, and to be with Christ, which is 
far better. Compared with Acts iii. 21. 
Whom the heaven must receive until the 
times of restitution of all things, which 
God hath spoken by the mouth of all 
his holy prophets since the world be- 
gan. And with Eph. iv. 10. He that de- 
scended is the same also that ascended up 
far above all heavens, that he might fill all 
things. 

n 1 John iii, 2. Beloved, now are we the 
sons of God ; and it doth not yet appear 
what we shall be : but we know that, 
when he shall appear, we shall be like 
him ; for we shall see him as he is. 1 Cor. 
xiii, 12, For now we see through a glass, 
darkly ; but then face to face : now I know 
in part ; but then shall I know even as also 
I am known. 

° Rom. viii. 23. And not only they, but 
ourselves also, which have the first-fruits 
of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan 
within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, 
to wit, the redemption of our body. Ps. 
xvi. 9. Therefore my heart is glad, and 
my glory rejoiceth ; my flesh also shall 
rest in hope. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



175 



Christ, p and rest in their graves as in their beds, q till at the 
last day they be again united to their souls/ Whereas the 
souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where 
they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies 
kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection 
and judgment of the great day/ 

Q. 87. What are we to believe concerning the resurrection? 

A. We are to believe, that at the last day there shall be 
a general resurrection of the dead, both of the just and un- 
just / when they that are then found alive shall in a moment 
be changed; and the self-same bodies of the dead which 
were laid in the grave, being then again united to their souls 
for ever, shall be raised up by the power of Christ/ The 
bodies of the just, by the Spirit of Christ, and by virtue of 
his resurrection as their head, shall be raised in power, spi- 
ritual, incorruptible, and made like to his glorious body ; w 



p 1 Thess. iv. 14. For if we believe that 
Jesus died, and rose again, even so them also 
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1 1sa. lvii, 2. He shall enter into peace: 
they shall rest in their beds, each one walk- 
ing in his uprightness. 

r Job xix. 26. And though after my skin 
worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh 
shall I see God: Ver. 27. Whom I shall 
see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, 
and not another ; though my reins be con- 
sumed within me. 

9 Luke xvi. 23. And in hell he lifted up 
his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abra- 
ham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 
Ver. 24. And he cried, and said, Father 
Abraham, have mercy on me, and send 
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his 
finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for 
I am tormented in this flame. Acts i. 25. 
That he may take part of this ministry 
and apostleship, from which Judas by 
transgression fell, that he might go to his 
own place. Jude, Ver. 6. And the angels 
which kept not their first estate, but left 
their own habitation, he hath reserved in 
everlasting chains, under darkness, unto the 
judgment of the great day. Ver. 7. Even 
as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities 
about them, in like manner, giving them- 
selves over to fornication, and going after 
strange flesh, are set forth for an example, 
suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 

87. * Acts xxiv. 15. And have hope to- 
ward God, which they themselves also 
allow, that there shall be a resurrection of 
the dead, both of the just and unjust. 



T 1 Cor. xv. 51. Behold, I shew you a 
mystery ; We shall not all sleep, but we 
shall all be changed, Ver. 52. In a moment, 
in the, twinkling of an eye, at the last 
trump ; (for the trumpet shall sound ;) 
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, 
and we shall be changed. Ver. 53. For 
this corruptible must put on incorruption, 
and this mortal must put on immortality. 
1 Thess. iv. 15. For this we say unto you 
by the word of the Lord, that we which 
are alive and remain unto the coming of the 
Lord shall not prevent them which are 
asleep. Ver. 16. For the Lord himself 
shall descend from heaven with a shout, 
with the voice of the archangel, and with 
the trump of God : and the dead in Christ 
shall rise first: Ver. 17. Then we which 
are alive and remain shall be caught up 
together with them in the clouds, to meet 
the Lord in the air : and so shall we ever 
be with the Lord. John v. 28. Marvel not 
at this : for the hour is coming, in the 
which all that are in the graves shall hear 
his voice, Ver. 29. And shall come forth ; 
they that have done good, unto the resur- 
rection of life ; and they that have done evil, 
unto the resurrection of damnation. 

w 1 Cor. xv. 21. For since by man came 
death, by man came also the resurrection 
of the dead. Ver. 22. For as in Adam all 
die, even so in Christ shall all be made 
alive. Ver. 23. But every man in his 
own order: Christ the first-fruits; after- 
ward they that are Christ's at his coming. 
Ver. 42. So also is the resurrection of the 
dead : it is sown in corruption, it is raised 



176 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



and the bodies of the wicked shall be raised up in dishonour 
by him, as an offended judge.* 

Q. 88. What shall immediately follow after the resurrection ? 

A. Immediately after the resurrection shall follow the 
general and final judgment of angels and men ; y the day and 
hour whereof no man knoweth, that all may watch and pray, 
and be ever ready for the coming of the Lord. 2 

Q. 89. What shall be done to the wicked at the day of 
judgment ? 

A. At the day of judgment, the wicked shall be set on 
Christ's left hand, a and, upon clear evidence, and full con- 
viction of their own consciences, 13 shall have the fearful but 
just sentence of condemnation pronounced against them ; c 
and thereupon shall be cast out from the favourable presence 



in incorruption : Ver. 43. It is sown in 
dishonour, it is raised in glory : it is sown 
in weakness, it is raised in power : Ver. 44. 
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a 
spiritual body. Phil. iii. 21. Who shall 
change our vile body, that it may be fa- 
shioned like unto his glorious body, ac- 
cording to the working whereby he is 
able even to subdue all things unto him- 
self. 

s John v. 27. And hath given him autho- 
rity to execute judgment also, because he is 
the Son of man. Ver. 28. Marvel not at 
this : for the hour is coming, in the which 
all that are in the graves shall hear his 
voice, Ver. 29. And shall come forth; they 
that have done good, unto the resurrection 
of life ; and they that have done evil, unto 
the resurrection of damnation. Matt. xxv. 
33. And he shall set the sheep on his right 
hand, but the goats on the left. 

88. y 2 Pet. ii. 4. For if God spared not 
the angels that sinned, but cast them down 
to hell, and delivered them into chains 
of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. 
Jude, Ver. 6. And the angels which kept 
not their first estate, but left their own 
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting 
chains, under darkness, unto the judgment of 
the great day. Ver. 7. Even as Sodom 
and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, 
in like manner, giving themselves over to 
fornication, and going after strange flesh, 
are set forth for an example, suffering the 
vengeance of eternal fire. Ver. 14. And 
Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, pro- 
phesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord 
cometh with ten thousands of his saints, Ver. 
15. To execute judgment upon all, and to 
convince all that are ungodly among them 



of all their ungodly deeds which they have 
ungodly committed, and of all their hard 
speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken 
against him. Matt. xxv. 46. And these 
shall go away into everlasting punishment: 
but the righteous into life eternal. 

z Matt. xxiv. 36. But of that day and 
hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of 
heaven, but my Father only. Ver. 42. 
Watch therefore : for ye know not what hour 
your Lord doth come. Ver. 44. Therefore 
be ye also ready : for in such an hour as ye 
think not the Son of man cometh. Luke 
xxi. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all 
them that dwell on the face of the whole 
earth. Ver. 36. Watch ye therefore, and 
pray always, that ye may be accounted 
worthy to escape all these things that shall 
come to pass, and to stand before the Son of 
man. 

89. a Matt. xxv. 33. And he shall set 
the sheep on his right hand, but the goats 

on the left. 

b Rom. ii. 15. Which shew the work of 
the law written in their hearts, their con- 
science also bearing witness, and their thoughts 
the mean while accusing or else excusing 
one another, Ver. 16. In the day when 
God shall judge the secrets of men by 
Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. 

Matt. xxv. 41 . Then shall he say also 
unto them on the left hand, Depart from 
me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared 
for the devil and his angels : Ver. 42. 
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me 
no meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave me 
no drink : Ver. 43, I was a stranger, and 
ye took me not in : naked, and ye clothed 
me not : sick, and in prison, and ye visited 
me not. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



177 



of God, and the glorious fellowship with Christ, his saints, 
and all his holy angels, into hell, to be punished with un- 
speakable torments, both of body and soul, with the devil 
and his angels for ever. d 

Q. 90. What shall be done to the righteous at the day of 
judgment ? 

A. At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught 
up to Christ in the clouds, 6 shall be set on his right hand, 
and there openly acknowledged and acquitted/ shall join 
with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men/ and 
shall be received into heaven/ where they shall be fully and 
for ever freed from all sin and misery ;* filled with incon- 
ceivable joys/ made perfectly holy and happy both in body 
and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy 
angels/ but especially in the immediate vision and fruition 
of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the 
Holy Spirit, to all eternity. m And this is the perfect and 



a Luke xvi. 26. And besides all this, 
between us and you there is a great gulf 
fixed : so that they which would pass from 
hence to you cannot ; neither can they pass 
to us, that would come from thence. 2 Thess. 
i. 8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on 
them that know not God, and that obey not 
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : Ver. 
9. Who shall be punished with everlasting 
destruction from the presence of the Lord, 
and from the glory of his power. 

90. e 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we which 
are alive and remain shall be caught up 
together with them in the clouds, to meet the 
Lord in the air : and so shall we ever be 
with the Lord. 

f Matt. xxv. 33. And he shall set the 
sheep on his right hand, but the goats on 
the left. Matt. x. 32. Whosoever there- 
fore shall confess me before men, him will 
I confess also before my Father which is in 



s 1 Cor. vi. 2. Do ye not know that the 
saints shall judge the world? and if the 
world shall be judged by you, are ye un- 
worthy to judge the smallest matters ? 
Ver. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge 
angels ? how much more things that per- 
tain to this life ? 

h Matt. xxv. 34. Then shall the King 
say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye 
blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom 
prepared for you from the foundation of 
the world. Ver. 46. And these shall go 
away into everlasting punishment : but the 
righteous into life eternal. 



i Eph. v. 27. That he might present it to 
himself a glorious church, not having spot, or 
wrinkle, or any such thing ; but that it 
should be holy, and without blemish. Rev. 
xiv. 13. And I heard a voice from heaven 
saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the 
dead which die in the Lord from hence- 
forth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may 
rest from their labours ; and their works do 
follow them. 

k Ps. xvi. 11. Thou wilt shew me the 
path of life : in thy presence is fulness 
of joy; at thy right hand there are plea- 
sures for evermore. 

1 Heb. xii. 22. But ye are come unto 
mount Sion, and unto the city of the living 
God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an 
innumerable company of angels, Ver. 23. 
To the general assembly and church of the 
first-born, which are written in heaven, and 
to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits 
of just men made perfect. 

m 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we 
the sons of God ; and it doth not yet ap- 
pear what we shall be : but we know that, 
when he shall appear, we shall be like 
him ; for we shall see him as he is. 1 Cor. 
xiii. 12. For now we see through a glass, 
darkly ; but then face to face : now I know 
in part ; but then shall 1 know even as also 
I am known. 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we 
which are alive and remain shall be caught 
up together with them in the clouds, to 
meet the Lord in the air : and so shall we 
ever be with the Lord. Ver. 18. Wherefore 
comfort one another with these words. 

M 



178 THE LARGER CATECHISM. 

full communion, which the members of the invisible church 
shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day 
of judgment. 

HAVING SEEN WHAT THE SCRIPTURES PRINCIPALLY TEACH US TO 
BELIEVE CONCERNING GOD, IT FOLLOWS TO CONSIDER WHAT 
THEY REQUIRE AS THE DUTY OF MAN. 

Q. 91. What is the duty which God requireth of man f 

A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience 
to his revealed will. n 

Q. 92. What did God at first reveal unto man as the rule 
of his obedience ? 

A. The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate 
of innocence, and to all mankind in him, besides a special 
command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the know- 
ledge of good and evil, was the moral law. 

Q. 93. What is the moral law f 

A. The moral law is the declaration of the will of God to 
mankind, directing and binding every one to personal, per- 
fect, and perpetual conformity and obedience thereunto, in 
the frame and disposition of the whole man, soul and body, p 

91. n Rom. xii. 1. 1 beseech you, there- law, do by nature the things contained in 
fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that the law, these, having not the law, are a 

ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy , law unto themselves ; Ver. 15. Which shew 

acceptable unto God, which is your reason- the work of the law written in their hearts, 

able service. Ver. 2. And be not con- their conscience also bearing witness, and 

formed to this world ; but be ye trans- their thoughts the mean while accusing or 

formed by the renewing of your mind, else excusing one another. Rom. x. 5. For 

that ye may prove what is that good, and Moses describeth the righteousness which is 

acceptable, and perfect will of God. Micah of the law, That the man which doeth 

vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, man, what those things shall live by them. Gen. ii. 

is good ; and what doth the Lord require of 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good 

thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : for in the 

to walk humbly with thy God ? 1 Sam. xv. day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt 

22. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as surely die. 

great delight in burnt-offerings and sacri- 93. p Deut. v. 1. And Moses called all 

fices, as in obeying the voice of' the Lord ? Israel, and said unto them, Hear, Israel, 

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and the statutes and judgments which I speak 

to hearken than the fat of rams. in your ears this day, that ye may learn 

92. Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us them, and keep and do them. Ver. 2. The 
make man in our image, after our likeness; Lord our God made a covenant with us in 
and let them have dominion over the fish Horeb. Ver. 3. The Lord made not this 
of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, covenant with our fathers, but with us, 
and over the cattle, and over all the even us, who are all of us here alive this 
earth, and over every creeping thing that day. Ver. 31. But as for thee, stand thou 
creepeth upon the earth. Ver. 27. So here by me, and I will speak unto thee all 
God created man in his own image : in the the commandments, and the statutes, and 
image of God created he him; male and the judgments, which thou shalt teach 
female created he them. Rom. ii. 14. For them, that they may do them in the land 
when the Gentiles, which have not the which I give them to possess it. Ver. 33. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



179 



and in performance of all those duties of holiness and righte- 
ousness which he oweth to God and man : q promising life upon 
the fulfilling, and threatening death upon the breach of it.* 

Q. 94. Is there any use ofth&moral law to man since the fall ? 

A. Although no man, since the fall, can attain to righte- 
ousness and life by the moral law ; s yet there is great use 
thereof, as well common to all men, as peculiar either to the 
unregenerate, or the regenerate. 1 

Q. 95. Of what use is the moral law to all men? 

A. The moral law is of use to all men, to inform them of 
the holy nature and will of God, v and of their duty, binding 
them to walk accordingly ; w to convince them of their dis- 
ability to keep it, and of the sinful pollution of their nature, 
hearts, and lives : x to humble them in the sense of their sin 



Ye shall walk in all the ways which the 
Lord your God hath commanded you, that 
ye may live, and that it may be well with 
you, and that ye may prolong your days 
in the land which ye shall possess. Luke 
x. 26. He said unto him, What is written 
in the law ? how readest thou ? Ver. 27. 
And he answering, said, Thou shalt love 
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and 
with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, 
and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour 
as thyself. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as 
are of the works of the law are under the 
curse : for it is written, Cursed is every 
one that continueth not in all things which are 
written in the book of the law to do them. 
1 Thess. v. 23. And the very God of peace 
sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your 
whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved 
blameless unto the coming of our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

«J Luke i. 75. In holiness and righteous- 
ness before him, all the days of our life. 
Acts xxiv. 16. And herein do I exercise 
myself, to have always a conscience void 
of offence toward God, and toward men. 

1 Rom. x. 5. For Moses describeth the 
righteousness which is of the law, That 
the man which doeth those things shall live 
by them. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are 
of the works of the law are under the 
curse : for it is written, Cursed is every 
one that continueth not in all things which 
are written in the book of the law to do them. 
Ver. 12. And the law is not of faith: 
but, The man that doeth them shall live in 
them. 

94. ■ Rom. viii. 3. For what the law 
could not do, in that it was weak through 
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the 



likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con- 
demned sin in the flesh. Gal. ii. 16. 
Knowing that a man is not justified by the 
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus 
Christ, even we have believed in Jesus 
Christ, that we might be justified by the 
faith of Christ, and not by the works of 
the law : for by the works of the law shall 
no flesh be justified. 

1 1 Tim. i. 8. But we know that the laio 
is good, if a man use it lawfully. 

95. v Lev. xi. 44. For I am the Lord 
your God : ye shall therefore sanctify your- 
selves, and ye shall be holy ; for lam holy: 
neither shall ye defile yourselves with any 
manner of creeping thing that creepeth 
upon the earth. Ver. 45. For 1 am the 
Lord that bringeth you up out of the land 
of Egypt, to be your God : ye shall there- 
fore be holy; for I am holy. Lev. xx. 7. 
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye 
holy: for I am the Lord your God. Ver. 
8. And ye shall keep my statutes, and 
do them : I am the Lord which sanctify 
you. Rom. vii. 12. Wherefore the law is 
holy, and the commandment holy, and just, 
and good. 

w Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, 
man, what is good ; and what doth the Lord 
require of thee, but to do justly, and to love 
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God ? 
James ii. 10. For whosoever shall keep the 
whole lav), and yet offend in one point, he is 
guilty of all. Ver. 11. For he that said, 
Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not 
kill. Now, if thou commit no adultery, 
yet if thou kill, thou art become a trans- 
gressor of the law. 

x Ps. xix. 11. Moreover, by them is thy 
servant warned ; and in keeping of them 



180 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



and misery/ and thereby help them to a clearer sight of the 
need they have of Christ/ and of the perfection of his obe- 
dience. 3 

Q. 96. What particular use is there of the moral law to 
unregenerate men ? 

A. The moral law is of use to unregenerate men, to 
awaken their consciences to flee from wrath to come/ and 
to drive them to Christ; or, upon their continuance in 
the estate and way of sin, to leave them inexcusable/ and 
under the curse thereof. 6 

Q. 97. What special use is there of the moral law to the 
regenerate ? 

A. Although they that are regenerate, and believe in 
Christ, be delivered from the moral law as a covenant of 
works/ so as thereby they are neither justified g nor con- 



there is great reward. Ver. 12. Who can 
understand his errors? cleanse thou me 
from secret faults. Kom. iii. 20. Therefore 
by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh 
be justified in his sight : for by the law is 
the knowledge of sin. Rom. vii. 7. What 
shall we say then ? Is the law sin ? God 
forbid. Nay, / had not known sin but by 
the law: for I had not known lust, except 
the law had said, Thou ahalt not covet. 

y Rom. iii. 9. What then ? are we better 
than they ? No, in no wise : for we have 
before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that 
they are all under sin. Ver. 23. For all 
have sinned, and come short of the glory of 
God. 

2 Gal. iii. 21. Is the law then against 
the promises of God ? God forbid : for if 
there had been a law given which could 
have given life, verily righteousness should 
have been by the law. Ver. 22. But the 
scripture hath concluded all under sin, that 
t/ie promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be 
given to them that believe. 

a Rom. x. 4. For Christ is the end of the 
law for righteousness to every one that be- 
lieveth. 

96. b 1 Tim. i. 9. Knowing this, that 
the law is not made for a righteous man, 
but for the lawless and disobedient, for the 
ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and pro- 
fane, for murderers of fathers and murderers 
of mothers, for man-slayers. Ver. 10. For 
whoremongers, for them that defile them- 
selves with mankind, for men-stealers, for 
liars, for perjured persons, and if there be 
any other thing that is contrary to sound 
doctrine. 



c Gal. iii. 24. Wherefore the law was our 
schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that 
we might be justified by faith. 

d Rom. i. 20. For the invisible things 
of him from the creation of the world are 
clearly seen, being understood by the 
things that are made, even his eternal 
power and Godhead ; so that they are with- 
out excuse. Compared with Rom. ii. 15. 
Which shew the work of the law written in 
their hearts, their conscience also bearing 
witness, and their thoughts the mean while 
accusing or else excusing one another. 

e Gal. iii. 10. For as many as are of 
the works of the law are under the curse : 
for it is written, Cursed is every one that 
continueth not in all things which are 
written in the book of the law to do 
them. 

97. f Rom. vi. 14. For sin shall not 
have dominion over you : for ye are not 
under the law, but under grace. Rom. 
vii. 4. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also 
are become dead to the law by the body 
of Christ; that ye should be married 
to another, even to him who is raised 
from the dead, that we should bring forth 
fruit unto God. Ver. 6. But now we are 
delivered from the law, that being dead 
wherein we were held ; that we should 
serve in newness of spirit, and not in the 
oldness of the letter. Gal. iv. 4. But when 
the fulness of the time was come, God sent 
forth his Son, made of a woman, made 
under the law, Ver. 5. To redeem them that 
were under the law, that we might receive 
the adoption of sons. 

s Rom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds of 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



181 



demned ; h yet, besides the general uses thereof common to 
them with all men, it is of special use, to shew them how 
much they are bound to Christ for his fulfilling it, and en- 
during the curse thereof in their stead, and for their good ;* 
and thereby to provoke them to more thankfulness/ and to 
express the same in their greater care to conform themselves 
thereunto as the rule of their obedience. 1 

Q. 98. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? 

A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the 
ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of 
God upon mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables 
of stone ; m and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of 



the law there shall no flesh be justified in 
his sight : for by the law is the knowledge 
of sin. 

h Gal. v. 23. Meekness, temperance : 
against such there is no law. Rom. viii. 1 . 
There is therefore now no condemnation 
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who 
walk not after the flesh, but after the 
Spirit. 

1 Rom. vii. 24. wretched man that I 
am ! who shall deliver me from the body of 
this death ? Ver. 25. I thank God through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the 
mind I myself serve the law of God, but 
with the flesh the law of sin. Gal. iii. 13. 
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the 
law, being made a curse for us: for it is 
written, Cursed is every one that hangeth 
on a tree : Ver. 14. That the blessing of 
Abraham might come on the Gentiles through 
Jesus Christ ; that we might receive the 
promise of the Spirit through faith. Rom. 
viii. 3. For what the law could not do, in 
that it was weak through the flesh, God 
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful 
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh ; 
Ver. 4. That the righteousness of the law 
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after 
the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

k Luke i. 68. Blessed be the Lord God of 
Israel ; for he hath visited and redeemed his 
people, Ver. 69. And hath raised up an 
horn of salvation for us in the house of his 
servant David. Ver. 74. That he would 
grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of 
the hand of our enemies, might serve him with- 
out fear, Ver. 75. In holiness and righteous- 
ness before him, all the days of our life. 
Col. i. 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, 
which hath made us meet to be partakers of 
the inheritance of the saints in light : Ver. 
13. Who hath delivered us from the power of 



darkness, and hath translated us into the 
kingdom of his dear Son ; Ver. 14. In 
whom we have redemption through his blood, 
even the forgiveness of sins. 

1 Rom. vii. 22. For I delight in the law 
of God after the inward man. Rom. xii. 2. 
And be not conformed to this world ; but 
be ye transformed by the renewing of your 
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, 
and acceptable, and perfect will of God, 
Tit. ii. 11. For the grace of God that 
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all 
men, Ver. 12. Teaching us, that, denying 
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should 
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this 
present world ; Ver. 13. Looking for that 
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing 
of the great God and our Saviour Jesus 
Christ; Ver. 14. Who gave himself for us, 
that he might redeem us from all iniquity, 
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, 
zealous of good works. 

98. m Deut. x. 4. And he wrote on the 
f, according to the first writing, the ten 
which the Lord spake unto you 
in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, 
in the day of the assembly : and the Lord 
gave them unto me. Exod. xxxiv. 1. 
And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee 
two tables of stone like unto the first ; and 
/ will write upon these tables the words that 
were in the first tables, which thou brakest. 
Ver. 2. And be ready in the morning, and 
come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, 
and present thyself there to me in the top 
of the mount. Ver. 3. And no man shall 
come up with thee, etc. Ver. 4. And he 
hewed two tables of stone, like unto the first : 
and Moses rose up early in the morning, 
and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord 
had commanded him, and took in his hand 
the two tables of stone. 



1S2 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Exodus. The four first commandments containing our 
duty to God, and the other six our duty to man. u 

Q. 99. What rules are to be observed for the right under- 
standing of the ten commandments ? 

A. For the right understanding of the ten command- 
ments, these rules are to be observed : 

1. That the law is perfect, and bindeth every one to full 
conformity in the whole man unto the righteousness thereof, 
and unto entire obedience for ever; so as to require the 
utmost perfection of every duty, and to forbid the least 
degree of every sin. 

2. That it is spiritual, and so reacheth the understanding, 
will, affections, and all other powers of the soul ; as well as 
words, works, and gestures. 5 

3. That one and the same thing, in divers respects, is 
required or forbidden in several commandments." 1 



n Matt. xxii. 37. Jesus said unto him, 
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
heart, and with all thy soul, andwith all thy 
mind. Ver. 38. This is the first and great 
commandment. Ver. 39. And the second is 
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as 
thyself. Ver. 40. On these two command- 
ments hang all the law and the prophets. 

99. o Ps. xix. 7. The law of the Lord is 
perfect, converting the soul : the testimony 
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 
James ii. 10. For whosoever shall keep the 
whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is 
guilty of all. Matt. v. 21. Ye have 
heard that it was said by them of old 
time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever 
shall kill shall be in danger of the 
judgment : Ver. 22. But / say unto you, 
That whosoever is angry with his brother 
without a cause shall be in danger of the 
judgment ; and whosoever shall say to his 
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the 
council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, 
shall be in danger of hell-fire. 

p Bom. vii. 14. For we know that the 
law is spiritual ; but I am carnal, sold 
under sin. Deut. vi. 5. And thou shalt love 
the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and 
icith all thy soul, and with all thy might. 
Compared with Matt. xxii. 37. Jesus said 
unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and 
with all thy mind. Ver. 38. This is the 
first and great commandment. Ver. 39. 
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt 
love thy neighbour as thyself. Matt. v. 
21, 22. [See letter °.] Ver. 27. Ye 



have heard that it was said by them of 
old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery : 
Ver. 28. But L say unto you, That whoso- 
ever looketh on a woman to lust after her, 
hath committed adultery with her already in 
his heart. Ver. 33. Again, ye have heard 
that it hath been said by them of old time, 
Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt 
perform unto the Lord thine oaths : Ver. 34. 
But L say unto you, Swear not at all: neither 
by heaven ; for it is God's throne : Ver. 
37. But let your communication be, Tea, 
yea ; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than 
these cometh of evil. Ver. 38. Ye have 
heard that it hath been said, An eye for an 
eye, and a tooth for a tooth : Ver. 39. But 
7 say unto you, That ye resist not evil. 
Ver. 43. Ye have heard that it hath been 
said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and 
hate thine enemy : Ver. 44. But / say unto 
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse 
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray 
for them which despitefully use you, and per- 
secute you, &c. 

i Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your 
members which are upon the earth ; forni- 
cation, uncleanness, inordinate affection, 
evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which 
is idolatry. Amos viii. 5. Saying, When 
will the new moon be gone, that we may sell 
corn ? and the sabbath, that we may set 
forth wheat, making the ephah small, and 
the shekel great, and falsifying the balances 
by deceit 9 Prov. i. 19. So are the ways of 
every one that is greedy of gain ; which 
taketh away the life of the owners thereof. 1 
Tim. vi. 10. For the love of money is the 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



183 



4. That as, where a duty is commanded, the contrary 
sin is forbidden ; r and, where a sin is forbidden, the con- 
trary duty is commanded : s so, where a promise is annexed, 
the contrary threatening is included ; 1 and, where a threat- 
ening is annexed, the contrary promise is included/ 

5, That what God forbids, is at no time to be done ; w 
what he commands, is always our duty; x and yet every 
particular duty is not to be done at all times/ 



root of all evil ; which while some coveted 
after, they have erred from the faith, and 
pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

r Isa. lviii. 13. If thou turn away thy 
foot from the sabbath, from doing thy plea- 
sure on my holy day ; and call the sabbath 
a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable ; 
and shalt honour him, not doing thine oum 
ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor 
speaking thine own words. Deut. vi. 13. 
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve 
him, and shalt swear by his name. Com- 
pared with Matt. iv. 9. And saith unto him, 
All these things will I give thee, if thou 
wilt fall down and worship me. Ver. 10. 
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, 
Satan : for it is written, Thou shalt worship 
the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou 
serve. Matt. xv. 4. For God commanded, 
saying, Honour thy father and mother : and, 
He that cur seth father or mother, let him die 
the death. Ver. 5. But ye say, Whosoever 
shall say to his father, or his mother, It is 
a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be 
profited by me, Ver. 6. And honour not his 
father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus 
have ye made the commandment of God of 
none effect by your tradition. 

" Matt. v. 21, 22. [See letter ».] Ver. 23. 
Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the 
altar, and there rememberest that thy bro- 
ther hath ought against thee; Ver. 24. 
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and 
go thy way ; first be reconciled to thy brother, 
and then come and offer thy gift. Ver. 25. 
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles 
thou art in the way with him; lest, &c. 
Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole steal no more : 
but rather let him labour, working with his 
hands the thing which is good, that he may 
have to give to him that needeth. 

t Exod. xx. 12. Honour thy father and 
thy mother ; that thy days may be long upon 
the land which the Lord thy God giveth 
thee. Compared with Prov. xxx. 17. The 
eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to 
obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall 
pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 



v Jer. xviii. 7. At what instant I shall 
speak concerning a nation, and concerning 
a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, 
and to destroy it: Ver. 8. If that nation, 
against whom I have pronounced, turn from 
their evil, I will repent of the evil that I 
thought to do unto them. Exod. xx. 7. 
Thou shalt not take name of the Lord thy 
God in vain : for the Lord will not hold 
him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 
Compared with Ps. xv. 1 . Lord, who shall 
abide in thy tabernacle ? who shall dwell in 
thy holy hill ? Ver. 4. In whose eyes a vile 
person is contemned; but he honoureth 
them that fear the Lord : he that sweareth 
to his own hurt, and changeth not. Ver. 5. 
He that putteth not out his money to usury, 
nor taketh reward against the innocent. He 
that doeth these things shall never be moved. 
And with Ps. xxiv. 4. He that hath clean 
hands, and a pure heart ; who hath not 
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn 
deceitfully. Ver. 5. He shall receive the 
blessing from the Lord, and righteousness 
from the God of his salvation. 

w Job xiii. 7. Will ye speak wickedly 
for God ? and talk deceitfully for him ? 
Ver. 8. Will ye accept his person ? will ye 
contend for God ? Rom. iii. 8. And not 
rather, (as we be slanderously reported, 
and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do 
evil, that good may come ? whose damnation 
is just. Job xxxvi. 21. Take heed, regard 
not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen 
rather than affliction. Heb. xi. 25. Choos- 
ing rather to suffer affliction with the people 
of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for 
a season. 

x Deut. iv. 8. And what nation is there 
so great, that hath statutes and judgments 
so righteous as all this law, which I set 
before you this day ? Ver. 9. Only take 
heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, 
lest thou forget the things which thine eyes 
have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart 
all the days of thy life ; but teach them thy 
sons, and thy sons' sons. 

y Matt. xii. 7. But if ye had known 



184 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



6. That under one sin or duty, all of the same kind are 
forbidden or commanded; together with all the causes, 
means, occasions, and appearances thereof, and provocations 
thereunto. 2 

7. That what is forbidden or commanded to ourselves, 
we are bound, according to our places, to endeavour that it 
may be avoided or performed by others, according to the 
duty of their places. a 

8. That in what is commanded to others, we are bound, 
according to our places and callings, to be helpful to them ; b 
and to take heed of partaking with others in what is for- 
bidden them. 

Q. 100. What special things are we to consider in the ten 
commandments ? 

A. We are to consider, in the ten commandments, the 
preface, the substance of the commandments themselves, and 
several reasons annexed to some of them, the more to 
enforce them. 

Q. 101. What is the preface to the ten commandments? 
A. The preface to the ten commandments is contained in 



what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and 
not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned 
the guiltless. 

* Matt. v. 21, 22, 27, 28. [See in letter* 
before.] Matt. xv. 4. For God commanded, 
saying, Honour thy father and mother : and, 
He that curseth father and mother, let him 
die the death. Ver. 5. But ye say, Who- 
soever shall say to his father, or his mother, 
It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest 
be profited by me, Ver. 6. And honour not 
his father, or his mother, he shall be free. 
Thus have ye made the commandment of God 
of none effect by your tradition. Heb. x. 
24. And let us consider one another, to pro- 
voke unto love, and to good works: Ver. 25. 
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves 
together, as the manner of some is; but 
exhorting one another: and so much the 
more, as ye see the day approaching. 
1 Thess. v. 22. Abstain from all appearance 
of evil. Jude, Ver. 23. And others save 
with fear, pulling them out of the fire ; 
hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 
Gal. v. 26. Let us not be desirous of vain- 
glory, provoking one another, envying one 
another. Col. iii. 21. Fathers, provoke not 
your children to anger, lest they be dis- 
couraged. 

a Exod. xx. 10. But the seventh day is 
the sabbath of the Lord thy God : in it 



thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy 
son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor 
thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy 
stranger that is within thy gates. Lev. xix. 
17. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in 
thine heart : thou shalt in any wise rebuke 
thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 
Gen. xviii. 19. For I know him, that he 
will command his children and his household 
after him, and they shall keep the way of the 
Lord, to do justice and judgment ; that 
the Lord may bring upon Abraham that 
which he hath spoken of him. Josh. xxiv. 
15. And if it seem evil unto you to serve 
the Lord, choose you this day whom ye 
will serve ; whether the gods which your 
fathers served, that were on the other side 
of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, 
in whose land ye dwell : but as for me and 
my house, we will serve the Lord. Deut. 
vi. 6. And these words, which I command 
thee this day, shall be in thine heart ; 
Ver. 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently 
unto thy children, and shalt talk of them 
when thou sittest in thine house, and when 
thou walkest by the way, and when thou 
liest down, and when thou risest up. 

b 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have 
dominion over your faith, but are helpers 
of your joy : for by faith ye stand. 

c 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly on 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



185 



these words, / am the Lord thy God, which horn brought thee 
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.* Wherein 
God manifesteth his sovereignty, as being JEHOVAH, the 
eternal, immutable, and almighty God ; e having his being in 
and of himself/ and giving being to all his words g and works: 11 
and that he is a God in covenant, as with Israel of old, so 
with all his people ; l who, as he brought them out of their 
bondage in Egypt, so he delivereth us from our spiritual 
thraldom ; k and that therefore we are bound to take him for 
our God alone, and to keep all his commandments. 1 

Q. 102. What is the sum of the four commandments which 
contain our duty to God? 

A, The sum of the four commandments containing our 
duty to God, is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, 
and with all our soul, and with all our strength, and with all 
our mind. m 

Q. 103. Which is the first commandment? 

A, The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other 
gods before me. n 



no man, neither be partaker of other men's 
sins: keep thyself pure. Eph. v. 11. And 
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works 
of darkness, but rather reprove them. 
101. d Exod. xx. 2. 

e Isa. xliv. 6. Thus saith the Lord the 
King of Israel, and his Redeemer the Lord 
of hosts ; I am the first, and I am the last ; 
and besides me there is no God. 

f Exod. iii. 14. And God said unto 
Moses, I AM THAT I AM ; and he said, 
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of 
Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 

s Exod. vi. 3. And I appeared unto 
Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, 
by the name of God Almighty; but by 
my name JEHOVAH was I not known 
to them. 

h Acts xvii. 24. God, that made the world, 
and all things therein, seeing that he is 
Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in 
temples made with hands. Ver. 28. For 
in him we live, and move, and have our 
being; as certain also of your own poets 
have said, For we are also his offspring. 

1 Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my 
tovenant between me and thee, and thy seed 
after thee, in their generations, for an ever- 
lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and 
to thy seed after thee. Compared with Rom. 
iii. 29. Is he the God of the Jews only 7 is 
he not also of the Gentiles ? Yes, of the 
Gentiles also. 



k Luke i. 74. That he would grant unto 
us, that we, being delivered out of the hand 
of our enemies, might serve him without 
fear, Ver. 75. In holiness and righte- 
ousness before him, all the days of our 
life. 

i 1 Pet. i. 15. But as he which hath called 
you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of 
conversation : Ver. 1 6. Because it is writ- 
ten, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Ver. 17. 
And if ye call on the Father, who without 
respect of persons judgeth according to 
every man's work, pass the time of your 
sojourning here in fear: Ver. 18. Foras- 
much as ye know that ye were not re- 
deemed with corruptible things, as silver 
and gold, from your vain conversation re- 
ceived by tradition from your fathers. 
Lev. xviii. 30. Therefore shall ye keep 
mine ordinance, that ye commit not any 
one of these abominable customs, which 
were committed before you, and that ye 
defile not yourselves therein : I am the 
Lord your God. Lev. xix. 37. Therefore 
shall ye observe all my statutes, and all 
my judgments, and do them: I am the 
Lord. W 

102. m Luke x. 27. And he answering, 
said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with 
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with 
all thy strength, and with all thy mind ; and 
thy neighbour as thyself. 

103. n Exod. xx. 3. 



18G 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 104. What are the duties required in the first command- 
ment ? 

A. The duties required in the first commandment are, 
the knowing and acknowledging of God to be the only true 
God, and our God ;° and to worship and glorify him ac- 
cordingly/ by thinking/ meditating/ remembering/ highly 
esteeming, 1 honouring/ adoring/ choosing/ loving/ ^ de- 
siring/ fearing of him f believing him / trusting/ hoping/ 

104. »1 Chron. xxviii. 9. And thou, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in 

Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy them. 

father, and serve him with a perfect heart, 1 Ps. lxxi. 19. Thy righteousness also, 

and with a willing mind ; for the Lord God, is very high, who hast done great 

searcheth all hearts, and understandeth things : God, who is like unto thee ? 

all the imaginations of the thoughts : if v Mai. i. 6. A son honoureth his father, 

thou seek him, he will be found of thee ; and a servant his master : if then I be a 

but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee father, where is mine honour ? and if I be a 

off for ever. Deut. xxvi. 17. Thou hast master, where is my fear ? saith the Lord 

avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, of hosts unto you, priests, that despise 

and to walk in his ways, and to keep his my name. 

statutes, and his commandments, and his w Isa. xlv. 23. I have sworn by myself, 

judgments, and to hearken unto his voice, the word is gone out of my mouth in 

Isa. xliii. 10. Ye are my witnesses, saith righteousness, and shall not return, That 

the Lord, and my servant whom I have unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue 

chosen ; that ye may know and believe me, shall swear. 

and understand that 1 am he: before me there x Josh. xxiv. 15. And if it seem evil 

was no God formed, neither shall there be unto you to serve the Lord, choose you 

after me. Jer. xiv. 22. Are there any this day whom ye will serve ; whether the 

among the vanities of the Gentiles that gods which your fathers served, that were 

can cause rain ? or can the heavens on the other side of the flood, or the gods 

give showers ? Art not thou he, Lord of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell : 

our God ? therefore we will wait upon but as for me and my house, we will serve 

thee ; for thou hast made all these the Lord. Ver. 22. And Joshua said unto 

things. the people, Ye are witnesses against your- 

p Ps. xcv. 6. come, let us worship and selves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to 

bow down ; let us kneel before the Lord our serve him. And they said, We are wit- 

Maker. Ver. 7. For he is our God ; and nesses. 

we are the people of his pasture, and the y Deut. vi. 5. And thou shalt love tlie 

sheep of his hand. Matt. iv. 10. Then Lord thy God with all thine heart, and 

saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 

Satan : for it is written, Thou shalt wor- z Ps. lxxiii. 25. Whom have I in heaven 

ship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt but thee ? and there is none upon earth that 

thou serve. Ps. xxix. 2. Give unto the I desire besides thee. 

Lord the glory due unto his name ; worship a Isa. viii. 13. Sanctify the Lord of hosts 

the Lord in the beauty of holiness. himself ; and let him be your fear, and let 

i Mai. iii. 16. Then they that feared the him be your dread. 

Lord spake often one to another : and the b Exod. xiv. 31. And Israel saw that 

Lord hearkened, and heard it ; and a book great work which the Lord did upon the 

of remembrance was written before him Egyptians; and the people feared the 
for them that feared the Lord, and that Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant 

thought upon his name. Moses. 

* Ps. lxiii. 6. When I remember thee c Isa. xxvi. 4. Trust ye in the Lord for 
upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the ever : for in the Lord JEHOVAH is ever- 
night -watches, lasting strength. 

8 Eccl. xii. 1. Remember now thy Creator d Ps. cxxx. 7. Let Israel hope in the 

in the days of thy youth, while the evil Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, 

days come not, nor the years draw nigh, and with him is plenteous redemption. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



187 



delighting, 6 rejoicing in him ; f being zealous for him ; g calling 
upon him, giving all praise and thanks, h and yielding all 
obedience and submission to him with the whole man ? 
being careful in all things to please him, k and sorrowful 
when in any thing he is offended ; l and walking humbly 
with him. m 

Q. 105. What are the sins forbidden in the first command- 
ment ? 

A, The sins forbidden in the first commandment, are, 
Atheism, in denying or not having a God; 11 Idolatry, in 
having or worshipping more gods than one, or any with or 
instead of the true God; the not having and avouching 
him for God, and our God ; p the omission or neglect of any 
thing due to him, required in this commandment ; q igno- 



e Ps. xxxvii. 4. Delight thyself also in 
the Lord: and he shall give thee the de- 
sires of thine heart. 

f Ps. xxxii. 11. Be glad in the Lord, and 
rejoice, ye righteous : and shout for joy, all 
ye that are upright in heart. 

8 Eom. xii. 11. Not slothful in business ; 
fervent in spirit ; serving the Lord. Com- 
pared with Num. xxv. 11. Phinehas, the 
son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, 
hath turned my wrath away from the chil- 
dren of Israel, while he was zealous for my 
sake among them, that I consumed not the 
children of Israel in my jealousy. 

h Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing : 
but in every thing by prayer and supplica- 
tion, with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
made known unto God. 

i Jer. vii. 23. But this thing commanded 
I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will 
be your God, and ye shall be my people ; 
and walk ye in all the ways that L have 
commanded you, that it may be well unto 
you. James iv. 7. Submit yourselves there- 
fore to God. Resist the devil, and he will 
flee from you. 

k 1 John iii. 22. And whatsoever we 
ask, we receive of him, because we keep 
his commandments, and do those things that 
are pleasing in his sight. 

1 Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard 
Ephraim bemoaning himself thus ; Thou hast 
chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bul- 
lock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn thou 
me, and 1 shall be turned ; for thou art 
the Lord my God. Ps. cxix. 136. Rivers 
of waters run down mine eyes, because they 
keep not thy law. 

m Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, 
man, what is good; and what doth the 



Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and 
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy 
God? 

105. n Ps. xiv. 1. The fool hath said in 
his heart, There is no God. They are cor- 
rupt ; they have done abominable works ; 
there is none that doeth good. Eph. ii. 12. 
That at that time ye were without Christ, 
being aliens from the commonwealth of 
Israel, and strangers from the covenants of 
promise, having no hope, and without God 
in the world. 

Jer. ii. 27. Saying to a stock, Thou 
art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast 
brought me forth: for they have turned 
their back unto me, and not their face ; 
but in the time of their trouble they will 
say, Arise, and save us. Ver. 28. But 
where are thy gods that thou hast made 
thee ? let them arise, if they can save thee 
in the time of thy trouble : for according 
to the number of thy cities are thy gods, 
Judah. Compared with 1 Thess. i. 9. For 
they themselves shew of us what manner 
of entering in we had unto you, and how 
ye turned to God from idols, to serve the 
living and true God. 

p Ps. lxxxi. 11. But my people would 
not hearken to my voice ; and Israel would 
none of me. 

1 1sa. xliii. 22. But thou hast not called 
upon me, Jacob ; but thou hast been 
weary of me, Israel Ver. 23. Thou hast 
not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt- 
offerings, neither hast thou honoured me with 
thy sacrifices: I have not caused thee to 
serve with an offering, nor wearied thee 
with incense. Ver. 24. Thou hast bought 
me no sweet cane with money, neither hast 
thou filled me with the fat of thy sacri- 



188 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



ranee/ forgetfulness/ misapprehensions/ false opinions/ un- 
worthy and wicked thoughts of him; w bold and curious 
searching into his secrets ; x all profaneness/ hatred of God I 
self-love/ self-seeking/ and all other inordinate and immo- 
derate setting of our mind, will, or affections upon other 
things, and taking them off from him in whole or in part ; c 
vain credulity/ unbelief/ heresy/ misbelief/ distrust/ de- 
spair, 1 incorrigibleness/ and insensibleness under judgments, 1 



fices; but thou hast made me to serve 
with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with 
thine iniquities. 

r Jer. iv. 22. For my people is foolish, 
they have not known me : they are sottish 
children, and they have none understanding : 
they are wise to do evil, but to do good 
they have no knowledge. Hos. iv. 1. 
Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of 
Israel : for the Lord hath a controversy with 
the inhabitants of the land, because there is 
no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God 
in the land. Ver. 6. My people are destroyed 
for lack of knowledge: because thou hast 
rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, 
that thou shalt be no priest to me : seeing 
thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I 
will also forget thy children. 

6 Jer. ii. 32. Can a maid forget her 
ornaments, or a bride her attire ? yet 
my people have forgotten me days without 
number. 

t Acts xvii. 23. For as I passed by, and 
beheld your devotions, I found an altar with 
this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN 
GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly wor- 
ship, him declare I unto you. Ver. 29. 
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring 
of God, we ought not to think that the God- 
head is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, 
graven by art and man's device. 

v Isa. xl. 18. To whom then will ye liken 
God? or what likeness will ye compare 
unto him ? 

w Ps. 1. 21. These things hast thou done, 
and I kept silence ; thou thoughtest that I 
was altogether such an one as thyself: but I 
will reprove thee, and set them in order 
before thine eyes. 

* Deut. xxix. 29. The secret things belong 
unto the Lord our God ; but those things 
which are revealed belong unto us and to 
our children for ever, that we may do all 
the words of this law. 

y Tit. i. 16. They profess that they 
know God ; but in works they deny him, 
being abominable, and disobedient, and unto 
every good work reprobate. Heb. xii. 16. 



Lest there be any fornicator, or profane 
person, as Esau, who for one morsel of 
meat sold his birthright. 

z Kom. i. 30. Backbiters, haters of God, 
despiteful, proud, boasters. 

a 2 Tim. iii. 2. For men shall be lovers 
of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, 
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, un- 
thankful, unholy. 

b Phil. ii. 21. For all seek their own, not 
the things which are Jesus Christ's. 

1 John ii. 15. Love not the world, neither 
the things that are in the world. If any 
man love the world, the love of the Father is 
not in him. Ver. 16. For all that is in 
the world, the lust of the flesh, and the 
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is 
not of the Father, but is of the world. 
1 Sam. ii. 29. Wherefore kick ye at my 
sacrifice, and at mine offering, which I 
have commanded in my habitation; and 
honourest thy sons above me, to make your- 
selves fat with the chiefest of all the offer- 
ings of Israel my people ? Col. iii. 2. Set 
your affection on things above, not on things 
on the earth. Ver. 5. Mortify therefore 
your members which are upon the earth ; 
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affec- 
tion, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, 
which is idolatry. 

d 1 John iv. 1. Beloved, believe not every 
spirit, but try the spirits whether they are 
of God ; because many false prophets are 
gone out into the world. 

e Heb. iii. 12. Take heed, brethren, lest 
there be in any of you an evil heart of un- 
belief, in departing from the living God. 

f Gal. v. 20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, 
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedi- 
tions, heresies. Tit. iii. 10.-4 man that is 
an heretic, after the first and second admo- 
nition, reject. 

« Acts xxvi. 9. I verily thought with my- 
self that I ought to do many things contrary 
to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 

h Ps. lxxviii. 22. Because they believed 
not in God, and trusted not in his salvation. 

1 Gen. iv. 13. And Cain said unto the 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



189 



hardness of heart, m pride/ presumption/ carnal security/ 
tempting of God ; q using unlawful means/ and trusting in 
unlawful means / carnal delights and joys corrupt, blind, 
and indiscreet zeal/ lukewarmness, w and deadness in the 
things of God / estranging ourselves, and apostatizing from 
God / praying, or giving any religious worship, to saints, 
angels, or any other creatures / all compacts and consulting 



Lord, My punishment is greater than I can 
bear. 

k Jer. v. 3. O Lord, are not thine eyes 
upon the truth ? thou hast stricken them, 
but they have not grieved; thou hast con- 
sumed them, but they have refused to receive 
correction: they have made their faces 
harder than a rock ; they have refused to 
return. 

1 Isa. xlii. 25. Therefore he hath poured 
upon him the fury of his anger, and the 
strength of battle: and it hath set him on 
fire round about, yet he knew not ; and it 
burned him, yet he laid it not to heart. 

m Rom. ii. 5. But, after thy hardness 
and impenitent heart, treasurest up unto 
thyself wrath against the day of wrath 
and revelation of the righteous judgment 
of God. 

n Jer. xiii. 15. Hear ye, and give ear; 
be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken. 

Ps. xix. 13. Keep back thy servant also 
from presumptuous sins ; let them not have 
dominion over me : then shall I be up- 
right, and I shall be innocent from the 
great transgression. 

p Zeph. i. 12. And it shall come to pass 
at that time, that I will search Jerusalem 
with candles, and punish the men that are 
settled on their lees ; that say in their heart, 
The Lord will not do good, neither will he 
do evil. 

1 Matt. iv. 7. Jesus said unto him, It 
is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the 
Lord thy God. 

T Rom. iii. 8. And not rather, (as we be 
slanderously reported, and as some affirm 
that v:e say,) Let us do evil, that good may 
come ? whose damnation is just. 

"Jer. xvii. 5. Thus saith the Lord, Cursed 
be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh 
flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth 
from the Lord. 

* 2 Tim. iii. 4. Traitors, heady, high- 
minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers 
of God. 

v Gal. iv. 17. They zealously affect you, 
but not well ; yea, they would exclude you, 
that ye might affect them. John xvi. 2. 
They shall put you out of the synagogues : 



yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth 
you will think that he doeth God service. 
Rom. x. 2. For I bear them record, that 
they have a zeal of God, but not according 
to knowledge. Luke ix. 54. And when his 
disciples James and John saw this, they 
said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire 
to come down from heaven, and consume 
them, even as Elias did ? Ver. 55. But 
he turned, and rebuked them, and said, 
Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 

w Rev. iii. 16. So then because thou art 
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will 
spue thee out of my mouth. 

x Rev. iii. 1. And unto the angel of the 
church in Sardis write ; These things saith 
he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and 
the seven stars ; I know thy works, that 
thou hast a name that thou livest, and art 
dead. 

y Ezek. xiv. 5. That I may take the 
house of Israel in their own heart, because 
they are all estranged from me through their 
idols. Isa. i. 4. Ah sinful nation, a people 
laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, 
children that are corrupters ! They have 
forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the 
Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are 
gone away backward. Ver. 5. Why should 
ye be stricken any more ? ye will revolt 
more and more. The whole head is sick, 
and the whole heart faint. 

z Rom. x. 13. For whosoever shall call 
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 
Ver. 14. How then shall they call on him in 
whom thep have not believed ? and how shall 
they believe in him of whom they have 
not heard ? and how shall they hear with- 
out a preacher ? Hosea iv. 12. My people 
ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff 
declareth unto them : for the spirit of 
whoredoms hath caused them to err, and 
they have gone a whoring from under their 
God. Acts x. 25. And as Peter was 
coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down 
at his feet, and worshipped him. Ver. 26. 
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up ; 
I myself also am a man. Rev. xix. 10. 
And 7" fell at his feet to worship him. And 
he said unto me. See thou do it not: I am 



190 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



with the devil/ and hearkening to his suggestions / making 
men the lords of our faith and conscience ; c slighting and 
despising God and his commands ; d resisting and grieving 
of his Spirit/ discontent and impatience at his dispensations, 
charging him foolishly for the evils he inflicts on us ; f and 
ascribing the praise of any good we either are, have, or can 
do, to fortune/ idols/ ourselves/ or any other creature/ 



thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren 
that have the testimony of Jesus : worship 
God: for the testimony of Jesus is the 
spirit of prophecy. Matt. iv. 10. Then 
saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, 
Satan : for it is written, Thou shalt worship 
the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou 
serve. Col. ii. 18. Let no man beguile you 
of your reward in a voluntary humility, and 
worshipping of angels, intruding into those 
things which he hath not seen, vainly 
puffed up by his fleshly mind. Eom. i. 25. 
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, 
and worshipped and served the creature more 
than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. 
Amen. 

a Lev. xx. 6. And the soul that turneth 
after such as have familiar spirits, and after 
wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will 
even set my face against that soul, and 
will cut him off from among his people. 
1 Sam. xxviii. 7. Then said Saul unto his 
servants, Seek me a woman that hath a fami- 
liar spirit, that I may go to her, and en- 
quire of her. And his servants said to 
him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a 
familiar spirit at En-dor. Ver. 11. Then 
said the woman, Whom shall I bring up 
unto thee ? And he said, Bring me up 
Samuel. Compared with 1 Chron. x. 13. 
So Saul died for his transgression which he 
committed against the Lord, even against 
the word of the Lord, which he kept not, 
and also for ashing counsel of one that had, 
a familiar spirit, to enquire of it ; Ver. 14. 
And enquired not of the Lord : therefore 
he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto 
David the son of Jesse. 

b Acts v. 3. But Peter said, Ananias, 
why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the 
Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the 
price of the land ? 

c 2 Cor. i. 24. Not for that we have 
dominion over your faith, but are helpers 
of your joy : for by faith ye stand. Matt, 
xxiii. 9. And call no man your father upon 
the earth : for one is your Father, which 
is in heaven. 

d Deut. xxxii. 15. But Jeshurun waxed 
fat, and kicked : thou art waxen fat, thou 



art grown thick, thou art covered with 
fatness : then he forsook God which made 
him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his 
salvation. 2 Sam. xii. 9. Wherefore hast 
thou despised the commandment of the Lord, 
to do evil in his sight ? Thou hast killed 
Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and 
hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and 
hast slain him with the sword of the 
children of Ammon. Pro v. xiii. 13. Whoso 
despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but 
he that feareth the commandment shall 
be rewarded. 

e Acts vii. 51. Ye stiff-necked and un- 
circumcised in heart and ears, ye do always 
resist the Holy Ghost : as your fathers did, 
so do ye. Eph. iv. 30. And grieve not the 
Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed 
unto the day of redemption. 

fPs. lxxiii. 2. But as for me, my feet 
were almost gone; my steps had well 
nigh slipped. Ver. 3. For Lwas envious at 
the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the 
wicked. Ver. 13. Verily I have cleansed 
my heart in vain, and washed my hands in 
innocency. Ver. 14. For all the day long 
have I been plagued, and chastened every 
morning. Ver. 15. If I say, I will speak 
thus; behold, I should offend against the 
generation of thy children. Ver. 22. So 
foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a 
beast before thee. Job i. 22. In all this 
Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. 

s 1 Sam. vi. 7. Now therefore make a 
new cart, and take two milch-kine, on 
which there hath come no yoke, and tie 
the kine to the cart, and bring their 
calves home from them : Ver. 8. And 
take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon 
the cart ; and put the jewels of gold, 
which ye return him for a trespass-offering, 
in a coffer by the side thereof ; and send 
it away, that it may go. Ver. 9. And 
see, if it goeth up by the way of his own 
coast to Beth-shemesh, then he hath done 
us this great evil : but if not, then we shall 
know that it is not his hand that smote 
us ; it was a chance that happened to us. 

h Dan. v. 23. But hast lifted up thy- 
self against the Lord of heaven ; and they 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



191 



Q. 106. What are we specially taught by these words [be- 
fore me] in the first commandment ? 

A. These words [before me~\ or before my face, in the 
first commandment, teach us, that God, who seeth all 
things, taketh special notice of, and is much displeased 
with, the sin of having any other God : that so it may be 
an argument to dissuade from it, and to aggravate it as a 
most impudent provocation : 1 as also to persuade us to do 
as in his sight, whatever we do in his service. 111 

Q. 107. Which is the second commandment? 

A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make 
unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that 
is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in 
the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself 
to them, nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a jealous 
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto 
the third and fourth generation of them that hate me ; and 
shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep 
my commandments. 11 

Q. 108. What are the duties required in the second com- 
mandment ? 

A. The duties required in the second commandment are, 
the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all 
such religious worship and ordinances as God hath insti- 
tuted in his word; particularly prayer and thanksgiving 



have brought the vessels of his house be- 
fore thee, and thou and thy lords, thy 
"wives and thy concubines, have drunk 
wine in them ; and thou hast praised the 
gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, 
and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know : 
and the God in whose hand thy breath 
is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou 
not glorified. 

* Deut. viii. 17. And thou say in thine 
heart, My power, and the might of mine 
hand, hath gotten me this wealth. Dan. iv. 
30. The king spake, and said, Is not this 
great Babylon, that I have built for the 
house of the kingdom, by the might of my 
power, and for the honour of my majesty ? 

k Hab. i. 16. Therefore they sacrifice 
unto their net, and burn incense unto their 
drag ; because by them their portion is fat, 
and their meat plenteous. 

106. 1 Ezek. viii. 5. Then said he unto 
me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the 
way toward the north. So I lifted up 
mine eyes the way toward the north, 



and behold northward at the gate of the 
altar this image of jealousy in the entry. 
Ver. 6. He said furthermore unto me, 
Son of man, seest thou what they do ? even 
the great abominations that the house of 
Israel committeth here, that I should go far 
off from my sanctuary ? But turn thee 
yet again, and thou shalt see greater abomi- 
nations, etc. [to the end of the chapter.] 
Ps. xliv. 20. If we have forgotten the 
name of our God, or stretched out our 
hands to a strange god; Ver. 21. Shall 
not God search this out ? for he knoioeth the 
secrets of the heart. 

m 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. And thou, Solomon 
my son, know thou the God of thy father, 
and serve him with a perfect heart, and with 
a willing mind ; for the Lord searcheth all 
hearts, and understandeth all the imagina- 
tions of the thoughts : if thou seek him, 
he will be found of thee ; but if thou for- 
sake him, he will cast thee off for ever. 

107. » Exod. xx. 4, 5, 6. 

108. Deut. xxxii. 46. And he said 



192 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



in the name of Christ ; p the reading, preaching, and hear- 
ing of the word ; q the administration and receiving of the 
sacraments ; r church government and discipline ; s the minis- 
try and maintainance thereof; fc religious fasting; 7 swear- 



unto them, Set your hearts unto all the 
words which I testify among you this day, 
which ye shall command your children to 
observe to do, all the words of this law. 
Ver. 47. For it is not a vain thing for you ; 
because it is your life : and through this 
thing ye shall prolong your days in the 
land whither ye go over Jordan to possess 
it. Matt, xxviii. 20. Teaching them to 
observe all things whatsoever I have com- 
manded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, 
even unto the end of the world. Acts ii. 
42. And they continued stedfastly in the 
apostles'' doctrine and fellowship, and in 
breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1 Tim. 
vi. 13. I give thee charge in the sight of 
God, who quickeneth all things, and before 
Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate 
witnessed a good confession, Ver. 14. That 
thou keep this commandment without spot, 
unrebukeable, until the appearing of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. 

p Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing : 
but in every thing by prayer and supplica- 
tion, with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
made known unto God. Eph. v. 20. Giving 
thanks always for all things unto God and 
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

i Deut. xvii. 18. And it shall be, when 
he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, 
that he shall write him a copy of this law 
in a book, out of that which is before the 
priests the Levites : Ver. 19. And it shall 
be with him, and he shall read therein all 
the days of his life ; that he may learn to 
fear the Lord his God, to keep all the 
words of this law, and these statutes, to 
do them. Acts xv. 21. For Moses of old 
time hath in every city them that preach 
him, being read in the synagogues every 
sabbath- day. 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the 
word ; be instant in season, out of season ; 
reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long- 
suffering and doctrine. James i. 21, 
Wherefore, lay apart ali filthiness, and 
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with 
meekness the ingrafted word, which is able 
to save your souls : Ver. 22. But be ye 
doers of the word, and not hearers only, 
deceiving your own selves. Acts x. 33. 
Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and 
thou hast well done that thou art come. 
Now therefore are we all here present before 



God, to hear all things that are commanded 
thee of God. 

r Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. from Ver. 23 to 
Ver. 30. For i" have received of the Lord 
that which also I delivered unto you, That 
the Lord Jesus, the same night in which 
he was betrayed, took bread, etc. 

8 Matt, xviii. 15. Moreover, if thy 
brother shall trespass against thee, go and 
tell him his fault between thee and him alone : 
if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy 
brother. Ver. 16. But if he will not hear 
thee, then take with thee one or two more, 
that in the mouth of two or three wit- 
nesses every word may be established. 
Ver. 17. And if he shall neglect to hear 
them, tell it unto the church: but if he 
neglect to hear the church, let him be unto 
thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matt, 
xvi. 19. And I will give unto thee the 
keys of the kingdom of heaven : and what- 
soever thou shalt bind on earth shall be 
bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou 
shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in 
heaven. 1 Cor. Chapter v. 1 Cor. xii. 28. 
And God hath set some in the church, first, 
apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, 
teachers ; after that miracles ; then gifts 
of healings, helps, governments, diversities of 
tongues. 

* Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, 
apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, 
evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; 
Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, 
for the work of the ministry, for the edifying 
of the body of Christ. 1 Tim. v. 17. Let 
the elders that rule well be counted worthy of 
double honour, especially they who labour 
in the word and doctrine. Ver. 18. For the 
scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the 
ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The 
labourer is worthy of his reward. 1 Cor. 
ix. 7-15. Who goeth a warfare any time at 
his own charges ? who planteth a vineyard, 
and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or 
who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the 
milk of the flock ? etc. 

v Joel. ii. 12. Therefore also now, saith 
the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all your 
heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, 
and with mourning; Ver. 13. And rend 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



193 



ing by the name of God/ and vowing unto him : x as also 
the disapproving, detesting, opposing, all false worship ; y 
and, according to each one's place and calling, removing it, 
and all monuments of idolatry. 2 

Q. 109. What are the sins forbidden in the second com- 
mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, 
all devising, 3, counselling, 15 commanding, using/ and any 
wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God 
himself; 6 tolerating a false religion ; f the making any repre- 



your heart, and not your garments, and 
turn unto the Lord your God : for he is 
gracious and merciful. 1 Cor. vii. 5. De- 
fraud ye not one the other, except it be 
with consent for a time, that ye may give 
yourselves to fasting and prayer. 

w Deut. vi. 13. Thou shalt fear the Lord 
thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by 
his name. 

x Isa. xix. 21. And the Lord shall "be 
known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall 
know the Lord in that day, and shall do 
sacrifice and oblation ; yea, they shall vow 
a vow unto the Lord, and perform it. Ps. 
lxxvi. 11, Vow, and pay unto the Lord 
your God: let all that be round about 
him bring presents unto him that ought 
to be feared. 

y Acts xvii, 16. Now, while Paul waited 
for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred 
in him, when he saw the city wholly given to 
idolatry. Ver. 17. Therefore disputed he 
in the synagogue with the Jews, and with 
the devout persons, and in the market 
daily with them that met with him. Ps. 
xvi. 4. Their sorrows shall be multiplied 
that hasten after another god: their drink- 
offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take 
up their names into my lips. 

z Deut. vii. 5. But thus shall ye deal 
with them ; ye shall destroy their altars, 
and break down their images, and cut down 
their groves, and burn their graven images 
with fire. Isa. xxx. 22. Ye shall defile also 
the covering of thy graven images of silver, 
and the ornament of thy molten images of 
gold : thou shalt cast them away as a men- 
struous cloth ; thou shalt say unto it, Get 
thee hence. 

109. » Numb. xv. 39. And it shall be 
unto you as a fringe, that ye may look 
upon it, and remember all the command- 
ments of the Lord, and do them ; and 
that ye seek not after your own heart, and 
your own eyes, after which ye used to go 
a whoring. 



b Deut. xiii. 6. If thy brother, the son 
of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, 
or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, 
which is as thine own soul, entice thee 
secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other 
gods, which thou hast not known, thou, 
nor thy fathers ; Ver. 7. Namely, of the 
gods of the people which are round about 
you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, 
from the one end of the earth even unto 
the other end of the earth ; Ver. 8. Thou 
shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken 
unto him ; neither shall thine eye pity him, 
neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou 
conceal him. 

c Hosea v. 11. Ephraim is oppressed and 
broken in judgment, because he willingly 
walked after the commandment. Micah vi. 
16. For the statutes of Omri are kept, and 
all the works of the house of Ahab, and 
ye walk in their counsels; that I should 
make thee a desolation, and the inhabi- 
tants thereof an hissing : therefore ye shall 
bear the reproach of my people. 

d * 1 Kings xi. 33. Because that they 
have forsaken me, and have worshipped 
Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, 
Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and 
Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, 
and have not walked in my ways, to do 
that which is right in mine eyes, and to 
keep my statutes and my judgments, as 
did David his father. 1 Kings xii. 33. 
So he offered upon the altar which he had 
made in Beth-el the fifteenth day of the 
eighth month, even in the month which he 
had devised of his own heart ; and ordained 
a feast unto the children of Israel : and 
he offered upon the altar, and burnt in- 
cense. 

e Deut. xii. 30. Take heed to thyself that 
thou be not snared by following them, after 
that they be destroyed from before thee ; 
and that thou enquire not after their gods, 
saying, How did these nations serve their 
gods? even so will I do likewise. Ver. 31. 

N 



194 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



sentation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, 
either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of 
imao-e or likeness of any creature whatsoever f all wor- 
shipping of it, h or God in it or hy it the making of any 
representation of feigned deities/ and all worship of 



Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy 
God : for every abomination to the Lord 
which he hateth have they done unto 
their gods ; for even their sons and their 
daughters they have burnt in the fire to 
their gods. Ver. 32. What thing soever 
I command you, observe to do it : thou 
shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. 

f Deut. xiii. from Verse 6 to 12. [See 
letter b .] Zech. xiii. 2. And it shall come 
to pass in that day, saith the Lord of 
hosts, that I will cut off the names of the 
idols out of the land, and they shall no 
more be remembered ; and also I will 
cause the prophets and the unclean spirit 
to pass out of the land. Ver. 3. And it 
shall come to pass, that when any shall yet 
prophesy, then his father and his mother that 
begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not 
live; for thou speakest lies in the name of 
the Lord: and his father and his mother that 
begat him shall thrust him through when he 
prophesieth. Rev. ii. 2. I know thy works, 
and thy labour, and thy patience, and how 
thou canst not bear them which are evil : and 
thou hast tried them which say they are 
apostles, and are not, and hast found them 
liars. Ver. 14. But I have a few things 
against thee, because thou hast there them that 
hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught 
Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the 
children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed 
unto idols, and to commit fornication. 
Ver. 15. So hast thou also them that hold 
the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing 
I hate. Ver. 20. Notwithstanding I have 
a few things against thee, because thou suf- 
ferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth her- 
self a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my 
servants to commit fornication, and to eat 
things sacrificed unto idols. Rev. xvii. 12. 
And the ten horns which thou sawest are 
ten kings, which have received no kingdom 
as yet ; but receive power as kings one hour 
with the beast. Ver. 16. And the ten 
horns which thou sawest upon the beast, 
these shall hate the whore, and shall make 
her desolate and naked, and shall eat her 
flesh, and burn her with fire. Ver. 17. 
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil 
his will, and to agree, and give their king- 
dom unto the beast, until the words of Qod 
shall be fulfilled. 



8 Deut. iv. 1 5. Take ye therefore good 
heed unto yourselves, {for ye saw no manner 
of similitude on the day that the Lord spake 
unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the 
fire,) Ver. 16. Lest ye corrupt yourselves, 
and make you a graven image, the similitude 
of any figure, the likeness of male or female; 
Ver. 17. The likeness of any beast that is 
on the earth, the likeness of any winged 
fowl that flieth in the air; Ver. 18. The 
likeness of any thing that creepeth on the 
ground, the likeness of any fish that is in ^ 
the waters beneath the earth: Ver. 19. 
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, 
and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, 
and the stars, even all the host of heaven, 
shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve 
them, which the Lord thy God hath divided 
unto all nations under the whole heaven. 
Acts xvii. 29. Forasmuch then as we are 
the offspring of God, we ought not to think 
that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver ' 
or stone, graven by art and man's device. 1 
Rom. i. 21. Because that, when they knew 
God, they glorified him not as God, neither 
were thankful ; Jbut became vain in their 
imaginations, and their foolish heart was 
darkened. Ver. 22. Professing themselves 
to be wise, they became fools, Ver. 23. And 
changed the glory of the uncorruptible God 
into an image made like to corruptible man, 
and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and 
creeping things. Ver. 25. Who changed 
the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped 
and served the creature more than the 
Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

Dan. iii. 18. But if not, be it known 
unto thee, king, that we will not serve 
thy gods, nor worship the golden image which 
thou hast set up. Gal. iv. 8. Howbeit 
then, when ye knew not God, ye did service 
unto them which by nature are no gods. 

1 Exod. xxxii. 5. And when Aaron saw 
it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron 
made proclamation, and said, To-morrow is 
a feast to the Lord. 

k Exod. xxxii. 8. They have turned 
aside quickly out of the way which I com- 
manded them : they have made them a 
molten calf, and have worshipped it, and 
have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be 
thy gods, Israel, which have brought 
thee up out of the land of Egypt. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



1S5 



them, or service belonging to them / all superstitious de- 
vices," 1 corrupting the worship of God/ adding to it, or 
taking from it, whether invented and taken up of ourselves/ 
or received by tradition from others, q though under the 
title of antiquity/ custom/ devotion/ good intent, or any 
other pretence whatsoever ; v simony ; w sacrilege ; x all ne- 



1 1 Kings xviii. 26. And they took the 
bullock which was given them, and they 
dressed it, and called on the name of Baal 
from morning even until noon, saying, 
Baal, hear us ! But there was no voice, 
nor any that answered. And they leaped 
upon the altar which was made. Ver. 28. 
And they cried aloud, and cut themselves, 
after their manner, with knives and lancets, 
till the blood gushed out upon them. Isa. 
lxv. 11. But ye are they that forsake the 
Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that 
prepare a table for that troop, and that fur- 
nish the drink-offering unto that number. 

m Acts xvii. 22. Then Paul stood in the 
midst of Mars-hill, and said, Ye men of 
Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are 
too superstitious. Col. ii. 21. {Touch not, 
taste not, handle not; Ver. 22. Which all 
We to perish with the using,) after the 
commandments and doctrines of men. 
Ver. 23. Which things have indeed a shew 
of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, 
and neglecting of the body ; not in any 
honour to the satisfying of the flesh. 

n Mai. i. 7. Ye offer polluted bread upon 
mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we 
polluted thee ? In that ye say, The table 
of the Lord is contemptible. Ver. 8. And 
if V e °ff er th e olind for sacrifice, is it not 
evil ? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is 
it not evil ? offer it now unto thy governor; 
Vill he be pleased with thee, or accept thy 
person ? saith the Lord of hosts. Ver. 14. 
But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his 
flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto 
the Lord a corrupt thing : for I am a great 
King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my 
name is dreadful among the heathen. 

Deut. iv. 2. Ye shall not add unto the 
word which I command you, neither shall ye 
diminish ought from it, that ye may keep 
the commandments of the Lord your God 
which I command you. 

p Ps. cvi. 39. Thus were they defiled 
with their own works, and went a whoring 
with their own inventions. 

<J Matt. xv. 9. But in vain they do wor- 
ship me, teaching for doctrines the com- 
mandments of men. 

r 1 Pet. i. 18. Forasmuch as ye know 
that ye were not redeemed with corruptible 



things, as silver and gold, from your vain 
conversation received by tradition from your 
fathers. 

s Jer. xliv, 17. But we will certainly do 
whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our 
own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen 
of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings 
unto her, as we have done, we, and our 
fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the 
cities ofJudah, and in the streets of Jerusalem : 
for then had we plenty of victuals, and 
were well, and saw no evil. 

* Isa. lxv. 3. A people that provoketh me 
to anger continually to my face; that 
sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense 
upon altars of brick ; Ver. 4. Which remain 
among the graves, and lodge in the monu- 
ments ; which eat swine's flesh, and broth 
of abominable things is in their vessels ; 
Ver. 5. Which say, Stand by thyself, come 
not near to me ; for I am holier than thou. 
These are a smoke in my nose.^ a fire that 
burneth all the day. Gal. i. 13. For ye 
have heard of my conversation in time 
past in the Jews' religion, how that be- 
yond measure I persecuted the church of 
God, and wasted it; Ver. 14. And pro- 
fited in the Jews' religion above many my 
equals in mine own nation, being more 
exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my 
fathers. 

v 1 Sam. xiii. 11. And Samuel said, 
What hast thou done ? And Saul said, 
Because I saw that the people were scat- 
tered from me, and that thou earnest not 
within the days appointed, and that the 
Philistines gathered themselves together 
at Michmash ; Ver. 1 2. Therefore, said 
I, The Philistines will come down now 
upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made 
supplication unto the Lord : / forced my- 
self therefore, and offered a burnt-offering. 
1 Sam. xv. 21. But the people (said Saul) 
took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief 
of the things which should have been 
utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord 
thy God in Gilgal. 

w Acts viii. 18. And when Simon saw 
that through laying on of the apostles' 
hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered 
them money. 

* Bom. ii. 22. Thou that abhorrest idols, 



196 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



gleet/ contempt/ hindering/ and opposing the worship 
and ordinances which God hath appointed. 15 

Q. 110. What are the reasons annexed to the second com- 
mandment, the more to enforce it? 

A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment, 
the more to enforce it, contained in these words, For I the 
Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the 
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation 
of them that hate me ; and shewing mercy unto thousands of 
them, that love me, and keep my commandments f are, besides 
God's sovereignty over us, and propriety in us, d his fervent 
zeal for his own worship/ and his revengeful indignation 
against all false worship, as being a spiritual whoredom/ 



dost thou commit sacrilege ? Mai. iii. 8. 
Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed 
me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed 
thee ? In tithes and offerings. 

y Exod. iv. 24. And it came to pass by 
the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, 
and sought to kill him. Ver. 25. Then 
Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off 
the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his 
feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband 
art thou to me. Ver. 26. So he let him 
go : then she said, A bloody husband thou 
art, because of the circumcision. 

z Matt. xxii. 5. But they made light of 
it, and went their ways, one to his farm, 
another to his merchandise. Mai. i. 7. 
Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar ; 
and ye say, Wherein have we polluted 
thee ? In that ye say, The table of the 
Lord is contemptible. Ver. 13. Ye said 
also, Behold, what a weariness is it ! and 
ye have snuffed at it, saith the Lord of 
hosts ; and ye brought that which was torn, 
and the lame, and the sick ; thus ye brought 
an offering : should I accept this of your 
hand ? saith the Lord. 

a Matt, xxiii. 13. But woe unto you, 
scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye 
shut up the kingdom of heaven against 
men: for ye neither go in yourselves, 
neither suffer ye them that are entering to 
go in. 

b Acts xiii. 44. And the next sabbath- 
day came almost the whole city together 
to hear the word of God. Ver. 45. But 
when the Jews saw the multitudes, they 
V^ere filled with envy, and spake against 
those things which were spoken by Paul, 
contradicting and blaspheming. 1 Thess. 
ii. 15. Who both killed the Lord Jesus 
and their own prophets, and have per- 



secuted us ; and they please not God, and 
are contrary to all men; Ver. 16. For- 
bidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that 
they might be saved, to fill up their sins 
alway : for the wrath is come upon them 
to the uttermost. 

110. c Exod. xx. 5, 6. 

a Ps. xlv. 11. So shall the king greatly 
desire thy beauty : for he is thy Lord, and 
worship thou him. Rev. xv. 3. And they 
sing the song of Moses the servant of God, 
and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great 
and marvellous are thy loorks, Lord God 
Almighty; just and true are thy ways, 
thou King of saints. Ver. 4. Who shall 
not fear thee, Lord, and glorify thy 
name ? for thou only art holy : for all 
nations shall come and worship before 
thee ; for thy judgments are made mani- 
fest. 

e Exod. xxxiv. 13. But ye shall destroy 
their altars, break their images, and cut 
down their groves. Ver. 14. For thou 
shalt worship no other god : for the Lord, 
whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 

f l Cor. x. 20. But I say, that the 
things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they 
sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I 
would not that ye should have fellowship 
with devils. Ver. 21. Ye cannot drink 
the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils : 
ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, 
and of the table of devils, Ver. 22. Do 
we provoke the Lord to jealousy ? are we 
stronger than he ? Jer. vii. 18. The 
children gather wood, and the fathers 
kindle the fire, and the women knead 
their dough, to make cakes to the queen of 
heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto 
other gods, that they may provoke me to 
anger. Ver. 19. Do they provoke me to 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



197 



accounting the breakers of this commandment such as hate 
him, and threatening to punish them unto divers genera- 
tions ; s and esteeming the observers of it such as love him 
and keep his commandments, and promising mercy to them 
unto many generations. 11 

Q. 111. Which is the third commandment f 

A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the 
name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will not 
hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 1 

Q. 112. What is required in the third commandment? 

A. The third commandment requires, That the name of 
God, his titles, attributes/ ordinances, 1 the word, m sacraments, 11 

anger ? saith the Lord : do they not pro- dry land, and slay her with thirst. Ver. 

voke themselves to the confusion of their 4. And I will not have mercy upon her 

own faces ? Ver. 20. Therefore thus saith children ; for they be the children of whore- 

the Lord God, Behold, mine anger and my doms. 

fury shall be poured out upon this place, h Deut. v. 29. Oh that there were such 

upon man, and upon beast, and upon the an heart in them, that they would fear me, 

trees of the field, and upon the fruit of and keep all my commandments always, that 

the ground ; and it shall burn, and shall it might be well with them, and with their 

not be quenched. Ezek. xvi. 26. Thou children for ever / 

hast also committed fornication with the 111. i Exod. xx. 7. 

Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; 112. k Matt. vi. 9. After this manner 

and hast increased thy whoredoms, to pro- therefore pray ye : Our Father, which art 

voke me to anger. Ver. 27. Behold, there- in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Deut. 

fore I have stretched out my hand over xxviii. 58. If thou wilt not observe to do 

thee, and have diminished thine ordinary all the words of this law that are written 

food, and delivered thee unto the will of in this book, that thou mayest fear this glo- 

them that hate thee, the daughters of the rious and fearful name, THE LORD THY 

Philistines, which are ashamed of thy GOD. Ps. xxix. 2. Give unto the Lord the 

lewd way. Deut. xxxii. 16. They pro- glory due unto his name ; worship the Lord 

voked him to jealousy with strange gods, in the beauty of holiness. Ps. lxviii. 4. 

with abominations provoked they him to Sing unto God, sing praises to his name : 

anger. Ver. 17. They sacrificed unto devils, extol him that rideth upon the heavens by 

not to God ; to gods whom they knew not, his name J AH, and rejoice before him. 

to new gods that came newly up, whom Rev. xv. 3, 4. [See above in letter a.] 

your fathers feared not. Ver. 18. Of the 1 Mai. i. 14. But cursed be the deceiver, 

Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, which hath in his flock a male, and 

and hast forgotten God that formed thee, voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a cor- 

Ver. 19. And when the Lord saw it, he rupt thing: for I am a great King, saith 

abhorred them, because of the provoking the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful 

of his sons and of his daughters. Ver. among the heathen. Eccl. v. 1. Keep thy 

20. And he said, L will hide my face from foot vjhen thou goest to the house of God, 

them, I will see what their end shall be : and be more ready to hear than to give the 

for they are a very fro ward generation, sacrifice of fools : for they consider not 

children in whom is no faith. that they do evil. 

e Hosea ii. 2. Plead with your mother, m Ps. cxxxviii. 2. I will worship toward 

plead ; for she is not my wife, neither am thy holy temple, and praise thy name for 

I her husband : let her therefore put away thy loviDg-kindness, and for thy truth : 

her whoredoms out of her sight, and her for thou hast magnified thy word above all 

adulteries from between her breasts ; Ver. thy name. 

3. Lest I strip her naked, and set her as n 1 Cor. xi. 24. And, when he had given 

in the day that she was born, and make thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat ; 

her as a wilderness, and set her like a this is my body, which is broken for you : 



193 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



prayer, oaths/ vows/ lots/ his works, 3 and whatsoever 
else there is whereby he makes himself known, be holily 
and reverently used in thought/ meditation/ word/ and 
writing f by an holy profession/ and answerable conver- 
sation/ to the glory of God/ and the good of ourselves/ 
and others. 

Q. 113. What are the sins forbidden in the third com- 

mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the third commandment are, 
the not using of God's name as is required / and the abuse 

this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. book of remembrance was written before 
After the same manner also he took the cup, him for them that feared the Lord, and 
when he had supped, saying, This cup is that thought upon his name, 
the new testament in my blood: this do ye, v Ps. viii. 1. Lord our Lord, how excel- 
as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. lent is thy name in all the earth ! who hast 
Ver. 28. But let a man examine himself and set thy glory above the heavens. Ver. 3. 
so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that When I consider thy heavens, the work of 
cup. Ver. 29. For he that eateth and thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which 
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh thou hast ordained ; Ver. 4. What is man, 
damnation to himself, not discerning the that thou art mindful of him ? Ver. 9. 
Lord's body. Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in 

1 Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore that men all the earth ! [See the Psalm throughout. - 
pray every where, lifting up holy hands, w Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do i 

without wrath and doubting. word or deed, do all in the name of the Lor 

p Jer. iv. 2. And thou shalt swear, The Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father 
Lord liveth, in truth, in Judgment, and in by him. Ps. cv. 2. Sing unto him, sing 
righteousness ; and the nations shall bless psalms unto him : talk ye of all his won- 
themselves in him, and in him shall they drous works. Ver. 5. Eemember his mar- 
glory, vellous works that he hath done ; his won- 

*» Eccl. v. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, ders, and the judgments of his mouth. 
and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any 1 Ps. cii. 18. This shall be written for 

thing before God : for God is in heaven, the generation to come : and the people which 

and thou upon earth • therefore let thy shall be created shall praise the Lord. 
words be few. Ver. 4. When thou vowest y 1 Pet. iii. 15. But sanctify the Lord 

a vow unto God, defer not to pay it ; for he God in your hearts : and be ready always 

hath no pleasure in fools : pay that which to give an answer to every man that asketh 

thou hast voiced. Ver. 5. Better is it that you a reason of the hope that is in you with 

thou shouldest not vow, than that thou meekness and fear. Micah iv. 5. For all 

shouldest vow and not pay. Ver. 6. Suf- people will walk every one in the name of 

fer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin ; his god, and we will walk in the name of the 

neither say thou before the angel, that it Lord our God for ever and ever. 
was an error : wherefore should God be z Phil. i. 27. Only let your conversation 

angry at thy voice, and destroy the work be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. 
of thine hands ? a i Cor. x. 81. Whether therefore ye 

r Acts i. 24. And they prayed, and said, eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all 

Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of to the glory of God. 

all men, shew whether of these two thou b Jer. xxxii. 39. And I will give them 

hast chosen. Ver. 26. And they gave forth one heart, and one way, that they may fear 

their lots : and the lot fell upon Matthias ; me for ever, for the good of them, and of 

and he was numbered with the eleven their children after them. 
apostles. c i p e t # ii. 12. Having your conversation 

s Job xxxvi. 24. Eemember that thou honest among the Gentiles; tha,t, whereas 

magnify his work, which men behold. they speak against you as evil-doers, they 

* Mai. in. 16. Then they that feared may, by your good works, which they shall 

the Lord spake often one to another : and behold, glorify God in the day of visitation, 
the Lord hearkened, and heard it; and a 113. a Mai. ii. 2. If ye will not hear 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



199 



an ignorant, 6 vain/ irreverent, profane/ super- 
or wicked mentioning or otherwise using his 



of it in 

stitious/ 

titles, attributes/ ordinances/ or works/ by blasphemy, 101 per- 



and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give 
glory -unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, 
I will even send a curse upon you, and I 
will curse your blessings; yea, I have 
cursed them already, because ye do not 
lay it to heart. 

e Acts xvii. 23. For as I passed by, and 
beheld your devotions, I found an altar 
with this inscription, TO THE UN- 
KNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye igno- 
rantly worship, him declare I unto you. 

t Prov. xxx. 9. Lest I be full, and deny 
thee, and say, Who is the Lord ? or lest I 
be poor, and steal, and take the name of my 
God in vain. 

s Mai. i. 6. A son honoureth his father, 
and a servant his master : if then I be a 
father, where is mine honour ? and if I be 
a master, where is my fear ? saith the Lord 
of hosts unto you, priests, that despise 
my name. And ye say, Wherein have we 
despised thy name ? Ver. 7. Ye offer pol- 
luted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, 
Wherein have we polluted thee ? In that 
ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. 
Ver. 12. But ye have profaned it, in that 
ye say, The table of the Lord is polluted ; 
and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is 
contemptible. Mai. iii. 14. Ye have said, 
It is vain to serve God ; and what profit 
is it that we have kept his ordinance, 
and that we have walked mournfully be- 
fore the Lord of hosts ? 

1 Sam. iv. 3. And when the people 
were come into the camp, the elders of 
Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord 
smitten us to-day before the Philistines ? 
Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the 
Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it 
cometh among us, it may save us out of the 
hand of our enemies. Ver. 4. So the 
people sent to Shiloh, that they might 
bring from thence the ark of the cove- 
nant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth 
between the cherubims : and the two sons 
of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there 
with the ark of the covenant of God. 
Ver. 5. And when the ark of the covenant 
of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel 
shouted with a great shout, so that the 
earth rang again. Jer. vii. 4. Trust ye 
not in lying words, saying, The temple of 
the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple 
of the Lord, are these. Ver. 9. Will ye 
steal, murder, and commit adultery, and 
swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, 



and walk after other gods whom ye know 
not: Ver. 10. And come and stand before 
me in this house, which is called by my 
name, and say, We are delivered to do all 
these abominations ? Ver. 14. Therefore 
will I do unto this house, which is called by 
my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the 
place which I gave to you and to your 
fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. Ver. 
31. And they have built the high places 
of Tophet, which is in the valley of the 
son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and 
their daughters in the fire ; which I com- 
manded them not, neither came it into 
my heart. Col. ii. 20. Wherefore, if ye 
be dead with Christ from the rudiments 
of the world, why, as though living in the 
world, are ye subject to ordinances, Ver. 21. 
{Touch not, taste not, handle not; Ver. 22. 
Which all are to perish with the using), 
after the commandments and doctrines of 
men ? 

i 2 Kings xviii. 30. Neither let Hezekiah 
make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord 
will surely deliver us, and this city shall 
not be delivered into the hand of the 
king of Assyria. Ver. 35. Who are they 
among all the gods of the countries, that 
have delivered their country out of mine 
hand, that the Lord should deliver Jeru- 
salem out of mine hand ? Exod. v. 2. And 
Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I 
should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I 
know not the Lord, neither will I let 
Israel go. Ps. cxxxix. 20. For they speak 
against thee wickedly, and thine enemies 
take thy name in vain. 

* Ps. 1. 16. But unto the wicked God 
saith, What hast thou to do to declare my 
statutes, or that thou shouldest take my 
covenant in thy mouth ? Ver. 17. Seeing 
thou hatest instruction, and castest my 
words behind thee. 

1 Isa. v. 12. And the harp and the viol, 
the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in 
their feasts : but they regard not the work 
of the Lord, neither consider the operation of 
his hands. 

m 2 Kings xix. 22. Whom hast thou re- 
proached and blasphemed? and against 
whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and 
lifted up thine eyes on high ? even against 
the Holy One of Israel. Lev. xxiv. 11. 
And the Israelitish woman's son blas- 
phemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. 
And they brought him unto Moses. 



200 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



jury; 11 all sinful cursings, oaths/ vows, q and lots; r vio- 
lating of our oaths and vows, if lawful ; 3 and fulfilling 
them, if of things unlawful ; t murmuring and quarrelling 
at/ curious prying into/ and misapplying of God's de- 



n Zech. v. 4. I will bring it forth, saitb. 
the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into 
the house of the thief, and into the house 
of him that sweareth falsely by my name: 
and it shall remain in the midst of his 
house, and shall consume it, with the 
timber thereof, and the stones thereof. 
Zech. viii. 17. And let none of you 
imagine evil in your hearts against his 
neighbour ; and love no false oath : for 
all these are things that I hate, saith the 
Lord. 

1 Sam. xvii. 43. And the Philistine 
said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou 
comest to me with staves ? And the 
Philistine cursed David by his gods. 2 
Sam. xvi. 5. And when king David came 
to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a 
man of the family of the house of Saul, 
whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera : 
he came forth, and cursed still as he came. 

p Jer. v, 7. How shall I pardon thee 
for this ? thy children have forsaken me, 
and sworn by them that are no gods : when 
I had fed them to the full, they then 
committed adultery, and assembled them- 
selves by troops in the harlots' houses. 
Jer. xxiii. 10. For the land is full of 
adulterers ; for became of swearing the land 
mowneth ; the pleasant places of the wil- 
derness are dried up, and their course is 
evil, and their force is not right. 

1 Deut. xxiii. 18. Thou shalt not bring 
the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, 
into the house of the Lord thy God for any 
vow ; for even both these are an abomina- 
tion unto the Lord thy God. Acts xxiii. 
12. And when it was day, certain of the 
Jews banded together, and bound them- 
selves under a curse, saying that they would 
neither eat nor drink till they had killed 
Paul. Ver. 14. And they came to the 
chief priests and elders, and said, We 
have bound ourselves under a great curse, 
that we will eat nothing until we have 
slain Paul. 

r Esth. iii. 7. In the first month, (that 
is, the month Nisan,) in the twelfth 
year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, 
that is, the lot, before Haman, from day to 
day, and from month to month, to the 
twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 
Esth. ix. 24. Because Haman the son of 
Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of 



all the Jews, had devised against the 
Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur 
(that is, the lot) to consume them, and to 
destroy them. Ps. xxii. 18. They part my 
garments among them, and cast lots upon 
my vesture. 

s Ps. xxiv. 4. He that hath clean hands, 
And a pure heart ; who hath not lifted up 
his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 
Ezek. xvii. 16. As I live, saith the Lord 
God, surely in the place where the king 
dwelleth that made him king, whose oath 
he despised, and whose covenant he brake, 
even with him in the midst of Babylon 
he shall die. Ver. 18. Seeing he despised 
the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, 
he had given his hand, and hath done all 
these things, he shall not escape. Ver. 19. 
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, As I 
live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, 
and my covenant that he hath broken, even it 
will L recompense upon his own head. 

1 Mark vi. 26. And the king was ex- 
ceeding sorry ; yet for his oath's sake, and 
for their sakes which sat with him, he would 
not reject her. 1 Sam. xxv. 22. So and 
more also do God unto the enemies of David, 
if I leave of all that pertain to him, by the 
morning light, any that pisseth against the 
wall. Ver. 32. And David said to Abigail, 
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which 
sent thee this day to meet me : Ver. 33. 
And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be 
thou, which hast kept me this day from 
coming to shed blood, and from avenging 
myself with mine own hand, Ver. 34. For 
in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel 
liveth, which hath kept me back from 
hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted 
and come to meet me, surely there had 
not been left unto Nabal, by the morn- 
ing light, any that pisseth against the 
wall. 

v Rom. ix. 14. What shall we say then ? 
Is there unrighteousness with God ? God 
forbid. Ver. 19. Thou wilt say then 
unto me, WJiy doth he yet find fault ? For 
who hath resisted his will ? Ver. 20. 
Kay but, man, who art thou that repliest 
against God? Shall the thing formed 
say to him that formed it, Why hast thou 
made me thus ? 

w Deut. xxix. 29. The secret things be- 
long unto the Lord our God: but those 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



201 



crees x and providences ; y misinterpreting/ misapplying/ or 
any way perverting the word, or any part of it, b to profane 
jests, curious or unprofitable questions, vain janglings, or 
the maintaining of false doctrines ; d abusing it, the creatures, 
or any thing contained under the name of God, to charms, 6 



things which are revealed belong unto us 
and to our children for ever, that we may 
do all the words of this law. 

x Kom. iii. 5. But if our unrighteousness 
commend the righteousness of God, what shall 
we say ? Is God unrighteous who taketh 
vengeance ? ( I speak as a man.) Ver. 7. 
For if the truth of God hath more abounded 
through my lie unto his glory ; why yet am 
I also judged as a sinner? Eom. vi. 1. 
What shall we say then ? Shall we con- 
tinue in sin, that grace may abound 9 Ver. 
2. God forbid. 

y Eccl. viii. 11. Because sentence against 
an evil work is not executed speedily, there- 
fore the heart of the sons of men is fully set 
in them to do evil. Eccl. ix. 3. This is an 
evil among all things that are done under 
the sun, that there is one event unto all: 
yea, also the heart of the sons of men is 
full of evil, and madness is in their heart 
while they live, and after that they go to 
the dead. Ps. xxxix. throughout. I said, 
I will take heed to my ways, that I sin 
not with my tongue etc. 

z Matt. v. 21 to the end. [See Quest. 
99, letter °.] 

a Ezek. xiii. 22. Because with lies ye 
have made the heart of the righteous sad, 
whom I have not made sad ; and strength- 
ened the hands of the wicked, that he 
should not return from his wicked way, 
by promising him life. 

b 2 Pet. iii. 16. As also in all his 
epistles, speaking in them of these things : 
in which are some things hard to be 
understood, which they that are unlearned 
and unstable wrest, as they do also the other 
scriptures, unto their own destruction. Matt, 
xxii. 24 to Verse 31. Saying, Master, 
Moses said, If a man die, having no chil- 
dren, his brother shall marry his wife, 
and raise up seed unto his brother. Ver. 
25. Now there were with us seven bre- 
thren : and the first— Ver. 28. Therefore, 
in the resurrection, whose wife shall she 
be of the seven ? for they all had her. 
Ver. 29. Jesus answered and said unto 
them, Ye do err, not Jcnoiving the scriptures, 
nor the power of God. Ver. 30. For in 
the resurrection etc. 

Isa. xxii. 13. And behold joy and 
gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, 



eating flesh and drinking wine : let us eat 
and drink, for to-morrow we shall die. Jer. 
xxiii. 34. And as for the prophet, and 
the priest, and the people, that shall say, 
The burden of the Lord, I will even punish 
that man and his house. Ver. 36. And 
the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no 
more ; for every man's word shall be his 
burden : for ye have perverted the words of 
the living God, of the Lord of hosts our 
God. Ver. 38. But since ye say, The bur- 
den of the Lord ; therefore thus saith the 
Lord, Because ye say this word, The bur- 
den of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, 
saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the 
Lord etc. 

a 1 Tim. i. 4. Neither give heed to fables, 
and endless genealogies, which minister ques- 
tions, rather than godly edifying which is in 
faith ; so do. Ver. 6. From which (faith) 
some having swerved, have turned aside 
unto vain jangling ; Ver. 7. Desiring to be 
teachers of the law ; understanding neither 
what they say, nor whereof they affirm. 
1 Tim. vi. 4. He is proud, knowing no- 
thing, but doting about questions and strifes 
of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, 
evil surmisings, Ver. 5. Perverse disputing s 
of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of 
the truth, supposing that gain is godliness : 
from such withdraw thyself. Ver. 20. 
Timothy, keep that which is committed to 
thy trust, avoiding profane and vain bab- 
blings, and oppositions of science falsely so 
called. 2 Tim. ii. 14. Of these things put 
them in remembrance, charging them before 
the Lord that they strive not about words to 
no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 
Tit. iii. 9. But avoid foolish questions, and 
genealogies, and contentions, and strivings 
about the law ; for they are unprofitable and 
vain. 

e Deut. xviii. 10-14. There shall not be 
found among you any one that maketh his 
son or his daughter to pass through the 
fire, or that useth divination, or an observer 
of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Ver. 
11. Or a charmer, or a consulter with fami- 
liar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 
Ver. 12. For all that do these things are an 
abomination unto the Lord, &c. Acts xix. 
13. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, 
exorcists, took upon them to call over them 



202 THE LARGER CATECHISM. 

or sinful lusts and practices ; f tlie^ maligning,? scorning, 11 re- 
viling, 1 or any wise opposing of God's truth, grace, and 
ways;* making profession of religion in hypocrisy, or for 
sinister ends ; ! being ashamed of it, m or a shame to it, by 



which had evil spirits the name of the Lord 
Jesus, saying. We adjure you by Jesus, 
whom Paul preacheth. 

f 2Tim. iv. 3. For the time will come 
when they will not endure sound doctrine: 
but after their oicn lusts shall they heap to 
themselves teachers, having itching ears ; 
Ver. 4. And they shall turn away their 
ears from the truth, and shall be turned 
unto fables. Eom. xiii. 13. Let us walk 
honestly, as in the day ; not in rioting and 
drunkenness, not in chambering and wanton- 
ness, not in strife and envying: Ver. 14. 
But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
make not proiision for the flesh, to fulfil the 
lusts thereof. 1 Kings xxi. 9. And she 
wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a 
fast, and set Xaboth on high among the 
people; Ver. 10. And set tico men, sons of 
Belial, before him, to bear witness against 
him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God 
and the king : and then carry him out, and 
stone him, that he may die. Jude, Ver. 4. 
For there are certain men crept in un- 
awares, who were before of old ordained to 
this condemnation, ungodly men, turning 
the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and 
denying the only Lord God, and our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

s Acts idii. 45. But when the Jews saw 
the multitudes, they were filled xcith envy, 
and spake against those things which were 
spoken by Paul, contradicting and blas- 
pheming. 1 John iii. 12. Js'ot as Cain. 
who was of that wicked one. and slew his 
brother. And wherefore sleic he him f Be- 
cause his own irorks were evil, and his bro- 
ther's righteous. 

h Ps. i. 1. Blessed is the man that 
walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, 
nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor 
sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 Pet. iii. 
3. Knowing this first, that there shall come 
in the last days scoffers, walking after their 
own lusts. 

* 1 Pet, iv. 4. Wherein they think it 
strange that ye run not with them to the 
same excess of riot, speaking evil of you. 

k Acts xiii. 45. But when the Jews saw 
the multitudes, they were filled with envy, 
and spake against those things tchich were 
spoken by Paul, contradicting and blas- 
pheming. Ter. 46. Then Paul and Bar- 
nabas waxed bold, and said, It was neces- 



sary that the word of God should first 
have been spoken to you : but seeing ye 
put it from you, and judge yourselves un- 
worthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to 
the Gentiles. Ver. 50. But the Jews 
stirred up the devout and honourable 
women, and the chief men of the city, and 
raised persecution against Paul and Barna- 
bas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 
Acts iv. IS. And they called them, and 
commanded them not to speak at all, nor 
teach, in the name of Jesus. Acts xix. 9. 
But when divers were hardened, and be- 
lieved not, but spake evil of that way before 
the multitude^ he departed from them, and 
separated the disciples, disputing daily in 
the school of one Tyrannus. 1 Thess. ii. 
16. Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, 
that they might be saved, to fill up their 
sins alway: for the wrath is come upon 
them to the uttermost. Heb. x. 29. Of 
how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, 
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trod- 
den under foot the Son of God, and hath 
counted the blood of the covenant, where- 
with he was sanctified, an unholy thing, 
and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace f 

1 2 Tim. iii. 5. Having a form of godli- 
ness, but denying the power thereof: from 
such turn away. Matt, xxiii. 14. Woe 
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites/ 
for ye devour widows' houses, and for a 
pretence make long prayer : therefore ye 
shall receive the greater damnation. Matt, 
vi. 1. Take heed that ye do not your alms 
before men, to be seen of them; otherwise 
ye have no reward of your Father which 
is in heaven. Ver. 2. Therefore, when 
thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trum. 
pet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the 
synagogues, and in the streets, that they 
may have glory of men. Verily I say unto 
you, They have their reward. Ver. 5. And 
when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the 
hypocrites are : for they love to pray 
standing in the synagogues, and in the 
corners of the streets, that they may be 
seen of men. Verily I say unto you. They 
have their reward. Ver. 16. Moreover, 
when ye fast , be not. as the hypocrites, of a sad 
countenance: for they disfigure their faces, 
that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily 
I say unto you. They have their reward. 

m Mark viii. 38. Whosoever therefore shall 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



203 



unconformable, 11 unwise, unfruitful/ and offensive walking,* 
or backsliding from it. r 

Q. 114. What reasons are annexed to the third command- 
ment ? 

A. The reasons annexed to the third commandment, 
in these words, [The Lord thy God,~\ and, \_For the Lord 
will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vainf\ 
are, because he is the Lord and our God, therefore his 
name is not to be profaned, or any way abused by us ; fc 
especially because he will be so far from acquitting and 
sparing the transgressors of this commandment, as that he 
will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment/ 

be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this 
adulterous and sinful generation, of him also 
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he 
cometh in the glory of his Father, with 
the holy angels. 

n Ps. lxxiii. 14. For all the day long 
ham I been plagued, and chastened every 
morning. Ver. 15. If I say, I will speak 
thus ; behold, I should offend against the 
generation of thy children. 

1 Cor. vi. 5. I speak to your shame. 
Is it so, that there is not a wise man among 



you? no, not one that shall be able to 
judge between his brethren ? Ver. 6. But 
brother goeth to law with brother, and 
that before the unbelievers. Eph. v. 15. 
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as 
fools, but as wise, Ver. 16. Eedeeming the 
time, because the days are evil. Ver. 17. 
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understand- 
ing what the will of the Lord is. 

p Isa. v. 4. What could have been done 
more to my vineyard, that I have not done 
in it ? wherefore, when I looked that it should 
bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild 
grapes? 2 Pet. i. 8. For if these things 
be in you, and abound, they make you that 
ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in 
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
Ver. 9. But he that lacketh these things 
is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath 
forgotten that he was purged from his old 
sins. 

<i Rom. ii. 23. Thou that makest thy 
boast of the law, through breaking the law 
dishonourest thou God? Ver. 24. For the 
name of God is blasphemed among the Gen- 
tiles through you, as it is written. 

r Gal. iii. 1. foolish Galatians, who 
hath bewitched you, that ye should not 
obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus 
Christ hath been evidently set forth, cru- 
cified among you ? Ver. 3. Are ye so 



foolish ? having begun in the Spirit, are ye 
now made perfect by the flesh ? Heb. vi. 6. 
If they shall fall away, to renew them again 
unto repentance; seeing they crucify to 
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put 
him to an open shame. 
114. 8 Exod. xx. 7. 

t Lev. xix. 12. And ye shall not swear 
by my name falsely, neither shalt thou pro- 
fane the name of thy God : I am the Lord. 

v Ezek. xxxvi. 21. But I had pity for 
mine holy name, which the house of Israel 
had profaned among the heathen, whither 
they went. Ver. 22. Therefore say unto 
the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord 
God, I do not this for your sakes, house 
of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, 
which ye have profaned among the heathen, 
whither ye went. Ver. 23. And I will 
sanctify my great name, which was pro- 
faned among the heathen, which ye have 
profaned in the midst of them ; and the 
heathen shall know that I am the Lord, 
saith the Lord God, when I shall be sancti- 
fied in you before their eyes. Deut. xxviii. 
58. If thou wilt not observe to do all the 
words of this law that are written in this 
book, that thou may est fear this glorious and 
fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; 
Ver. 59. Then the Lord will make thy plagues 
wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even 
great plagues, and of long continuance, 
and sore sicknesses, and of long continu- 
ance. Zech. v. 2. And he said unto me, 
What seest thou ? And I answered. I see 
a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty 
cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 
Ver. 3. Then said he unto me, This is the 
curse that goeth forth over the face of the 
whole earth; for every one that stealeth 
shall be cut off as on this side, according 
to it ; and every one that swear eth shall be 
cut of as on that side, according to it. 



204 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



albeit many such escape the censures and punishments o 
men. w 

Q. 115. Which is the fourth commandment? 

A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath 
day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do al 
thy work ; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord th 
God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, no 
thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor th 
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in si 
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that i 
them is, and rested the seventh day : wherefore the Lord blesse 
the sabbath-day, and hallowed it. x 

Q. ] 16, What is required in the fourth commandment ? 

A. The fourth commandment requireth of all men the 
sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he 
hath appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in 
seven ; which was the seventh from the beginning of the 
world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the 
week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world ; 
which is the Christian sabbath/ and in the New Testament 
called The Lord's day. 2 



Ver. 4. I will bring it forth, saith the 
Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the 
house of the thief, and into the house of him 
that sweareth falsely by my name, etc. 

w 1 Sam. ii. 12. Now the sons of Eli 
were sons of Belial; they knew not the 
Lord. Ver. 17. Wherefore the sin of the 
young men was very great before the Lord ; 
for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. 
Ver. 22. Now Eli was very old, and heard 
all that his sons did unto all Israel ; and 
how they lay with the women that assem- 
bled at the door of the tabernacle of the 
congregation. Ver. 24. Nay, my sons; 
for it is no good report that I hear : ye 
make the Lord's people to transgress. Com- 
pared with 1 Sam. iii. 13. For I have told 
him, that I will judge his house for ever, for 
the iniquity which he knoweth; because 
his sons made themselves vile, and he re- 
strained them not. 

115. x Exod. xx. 8-11. 

116. J Deut. v. 12. Keep the sabbath-day 
to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath 
commanded thee. Ver. 13. Six days thou 
shalt labour, and do all thy work ; Ver. 
14. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the 
Lord thy God : in it thou shalt not do any 
work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, 
nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, 



nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy 
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy 
gates ; that thy man-servant and thy maid- 
servant may rest as well as thou. Gen. 
ii. 2. And on the seventh day God ended his 
work which he had made ; and he rested on 
the seventh day from all his xoork which he 
had made. Ver. 3. And God blessed the 
seventh day, and sanctified it ; because that 
in it he had rested from all his work which 
God created and made. 1 Cor. xvi. 1. 
Now concerning the collection for the 
saints, as I have given order to the 
churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Ver. 
2. Upon the first day of the week let every 
one of you lay by him in store, as God 
hath prospered him, that there be no 
gatherings when I come. Acts xx. 7. And 
upon the first day of the week, when the dis. 
ciples came together to break bread, Paul 
preached unto them, ready to depart on 
the morrow ; and continued his speech 
until midnight. Matt, v. 17. Think not 
that I am come to destroy the law or the 
prophets : I am not come to destroy, but 
to fulfil. Ver. 18. For verily I say unto 
you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or 
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the laiv, 
till all be fulfilled. Isa. lvi. 2. Blessed is 
the man that doeth this, and the son of 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



205 



Q. 117. How is the sabbath or the Lord's day to be 
sanctified? 

A, The sabbath or Lord's day is to be sanctified by 
an holy resting all the day, a not only from such works 
as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly 

employments and recreations as are on other days law- 
ful ; b and making it our delight to spend the whole time 
(except so much of it as is to be taken up in works 
of necessity and mercy c ) in the public and private exer- 
cises of God's worship : d and, to that end, we are to 

man that layeth hold on it ; that keepeth and all manner of ware, and sold on the 

the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in 

his hand from doing any evil. Ver. 4. Jerusalem. Ver. 17. Then / contended with 

For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, 

that keep my sabbaths, and choose the What evil thing is this that ye do, and pro- 

things that please me, and take hold of fane the sabbath-day? Ver. 18. Did not 

my covenant ; — Ver. 6. Also the sons of your fathers thus, and did not our God 

the stranger, that join themselves to the bring all this evil upon us, and upon this 

Lord, to serve him, and to love the name city ? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel, 

of the Lord, to be his servants, every one by profaning the sabbath. Ver. 19. And 

that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, it came to pass, that when the gates of 

and taketh hold of my covenant ; Ver. 7. Jerusalem began to be dark before the 

Even them ivill I bring to my holy mountain, sabbath, I commanded that the gates should 

and make them joyful in my house of be shut, and charged that they should not 

prayer : their burnt- offerings and their be opened till after the sabbath : and 

sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine some of my servants set I at the gates, 

altar ; for mine house shall be called an that there should no burden be brought in on 

house of prayer for all people. the sabbath-day. Ver. 20. So the mer- 

z Rev. i. 10. / was in the Spirit on the chants, and sellers of all kind of ware, 

Lord's day, and heard behind me a great lodged without Jerusalem once or twice, 

voice, as of a trumpet. Ver. 21. Then I testified against them, 

117. a Exod. xx. 8. Remember the sab- and said unto them, Why lodge ye about 

bath-day, to keep it holy. Ver. 10. But the wall ? if ye do so again, 1 will lay 

the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord hands on you. From that time forth came 

thy God : in it thou shalt not do any work, they no more on the sabbath. Ver. 22. And 

thou, nor thy son, &c. 1 commanded the Levites, that they should 

b Exod. x\i. 25. And Moses said, Eat cleanse themselves, and that they should 

that to-day ; for to-day is a sabbath unto come and keep the gates, to sanctify the 

the Lord : to-day ye shall not find it in sabbath-day. Remember me, my God, 

the field. Ver. 26. Six days shall ye concerning this also, and spare me ac- 

gather it ; but on the seventh day, which is cording to the greatness of thy mercy. 

the sabbath, in it there shall be none. Ver. Jer. xvii. 21. Thus saith the Lord, Take 

27. And it came to pass, that there went out heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on 

some of the people on the seventh day for the sabbath-day, nor bring it in by the 

to gather, and they found none. Ver. 28. gates of Jerusalem ; Ver. 22. Neither carry 

And the Lord said unto Moses, How long forth a burden out of your houses on the 

refuse ye to keep my commandments and my sabbath-day, neither do ye any work ; but 

laws? Neh. xiii. 15. In those days saw hallow ye the sabbath-day, as I commanded 

I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the your fathers. 

sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading c Matt. xii. from verse 1 to 13. At 

asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all that time Jesus went on the sabbath day 

manner of burdens, which they brought into through the corn ; and his disciples were 

Jerusalem on the sabbath-day : and 1 testi- an hungered, and began to pluck the ears 

fied against them in the day wherein they of corn, and to eat. Ver. 2, But when 

sold victuals. Ver. 16. There dwelt men the Pharisees saw it, etc. 

of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, a Isa. lviii. 13. If thou turn away thy 



206 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, an< 
moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldh 
business, that we may be the more free and fit for th 
duties of that day. 6 

Q. 118. Why is the charge of keeping the sabbath moi 
specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors 

A, The charge of keeping the sabbath is more specially 
directed to governors of families, and other superiors, be- 
cause they are bound not only to keep it themselves, but 
to see that it be observed by all those that are under their 
charge; and because they are prone ofttimes to hinder 
them by employments of their own/ 

Q. 119. What are the sins forbidden in the fourth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, 



foot from the sabbath, from doing thy 
pleasure on my holy day; and call the 
sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, 
honourable; and shalt honour him, not 
doing thine own ways, nor finding thine 
own pleasure, nor speaking thine own 
words. Luke iv. 16. And he came to 
Nazareth, where he had been brought up : 
and, as his custom was, he went into the 
synagogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up 
for to read. Acts xx. 7. And upon the 
first day of the week, when the disciples came 
together to break bread, Paul preached unto 
them, ready to depart on the morrow. 1 
Cor. xvi. I. Now concerning the collection 
for the saints, as I have given order to the 
churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Ver. 

2. Upon the first day of the week let every 
one of you lay by him in store, as God hath 
prospered him, that there be no gatherings 
when I come. Ps. xcii. [title, A psalm or 
song for the sabbath-day. ,] Isa. lxvi. 23. 
And it shall come to pass, that from one 
new-moon to another, and from one sab- 
bath to another, shall all flesh come to wor- 
ship before me, saith the Lord. Lev. xxiii. 

3. Six days shall work be done : but the 
seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy 
convocation ; ye shall do no work therein : 
it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your 
dwellings. 

e Exod. xx. 8. Remember the sabbath- 
day, to keep it holy. Luke xxiii. 54. And 
that day was the preparation, and the sab- 
bath drew on. Ver. 56. And they re- 
turned, and prepared spices and ointments ; 
and rested the sabbath-day, according to the 
commandment. Exod. xvi. 22. And it 



came to pass, that on the sixth day they 
gathered twice as much bread, two omers 
for one man : and all the rulers of the 
congregation came and told Moses. Ver. 
25. And Moses said, Eat that to-day ; for 
to-day is a sabbath unto the Lord : to-day 
ye shall not find it in the field. Ver. 26. 
Six days ye shall gather it ; but on the 
seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it 
there shall be none. Ver. 29. See, for 
that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, 
therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the 
bread of two days : abide ye every man in 
his place ; let no man go out of his place 
on the seventh day. Neh. xiii. 19. [See 
letter b .] 

118. fExod. xx. 10. But the seventh 
day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God : 
in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor 
thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, 
nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy 
stranger that is within thy gates. Josh, 
xxiv. 15. And if it seem evil unto you to 
serve the Lord, choose you this day whom 
ye will serve; whether the gods which 
your fathers served, that were on the 
other side of the flood, or the gods of the 
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell : but as 
for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 
Neh. xiii. 15, 17. [See above in b .] Jer. 
xvii. 20. And say unto them, hear ye the 
word of the Lord, ye kings of Judah, and 
all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jeru- 
salem, that enter in by these gates. Ver. 
21, 22. [See above in b .] Exod. xxiii. 12. 
Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on 
the seventh day thou shalt rest ; that thine 
ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of 



THE LARGER CATECHISM, 



207 



all omissions of the duties required/ all careless, negligent, 
and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of 
them ; h all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that 
which is in itself sinful ; 1 and by all needless works, words, 
and thoughts, about our worldly employments and re- 
creations/ 

Q. 120. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth 
commandment, the more to enforce it? 

A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, 
the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, 
God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and 
reserving but one for himself, in these words, Six days shalt 
thou labour, and do all thy work : 1 from God's challenging 
a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the sab- 
bath of the Lord thy God : m from the example of God, 
who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all 



thine hand-maid and the stranger may be 
refreshed. 

119. 8 Ezek. xxii. 26. Her priests have 
violated my law, and have profaned 
mine holy things : they have put no dif- 
ference between the holy and profane, 
neither have they shewed difference be- 
tween the unclean and the clean; and 
have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I 
am profaned among them. 

h Acts xx. 7. And upon the first day of 
the week, when the disciples came together 
to break bread, Paul preached unto them, 
ready to depart on the morrow ; and con- 
tinued his speech until midnight. Ver. 
9. And there sat in a window a certain 
young man named Eutychus, being fallen 
into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long 
preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell 
down from the third loft, and was taken up 
dead. Ezek. xxxiii. 30. Also, thou son 
of man, the children of thy people still 
are talking against thee by the walls, 
and in the doors of the houses, and speak 
one to another, every one to his brother, 
saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what 
is the word that cometh forth from the 
Lord. Ver. 31. And they come unto thee 
as the people cometh, and they sit before 
thee as my people, and they hear thy words, 
but they will not do them: for with their 
mouth they shew much love, but their heart 
goeth after their covetousness. Ver. 32. 
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very 
lovely song of one that hath a pleasant 
voice, and can play well on an instrument : 
for they hear thy words, but they do them 



not. Amos viii. 5. Saying, When will the 
new -moon be gone, that we may sell corn ? 
and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, 
making the ephah small, and the shekel 
great, and falsifying the balances by de- 
ceit ? Mai. i. 13. Ye said also, Behold, 
what a weariness is it ! and ye have snuffed 
at it, saith the Lord of hosts : and ye 
brought that which was torn, and the 
lame, and the sick ; thus ye brought an 
offering : should I accept this of your 
hand ? saith the Lord. 

1 Ezek. xxiii. 38. Moreover, this they 
have done unto me : they have defiled my 
sanctuary in the same day, and have pro- 
faned my sabbaths. 

k Jer. xvii. 24. And it shall come to 
pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, 
saith the Lord, to bring in no burden 
through the gates of this city on the sabbath- 
day, but hallow the sabbath-day, lo do no 
work therein. Ver. 27. But if ye will not 
hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath- 
day, and not to bear a burden, even entering 
in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sab- 
bath-day ; then will I kindle a fire in 
the gates thereof, and it shall devour the 
palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be 
quenched. Isa. lviii. 13. If thou turn away 
thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy 
pleasure on my holy day ; and call the 
sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, 
honourable; and shalt honour him, not 
doimg thine own ways, nor finding thine 
own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words. 

120. 1 Exod. xx. 9. 

m Exod. xx. 10. 



203 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that 
blessing which God put, upon that day, not only in sancti- 
fying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be 
a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it ; Wherefore 
the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed it. n 

Q. 121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning 
of the fourth commandment? 

A. The word Remember is set in the beginning of the 
fourth commandment, partly, because of the great benefit 
of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our pre- 
paration to keep it, p and, in keeping it, better to keep all 
the rest of the commandments/ and to continue a thankful 
remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and re- 
demption, which contain a short abridgment of religion ; r 
and partly, because we are very ready to forget it, s for that 
there is less light of nature for it,* and yet it restraineth our 



» Exod. XX. 11. 
121. ° Exod. xx. 8. 

p Exod. xvi. 23. And he said unto them, 
This is that which the Lord hath said, To- 
morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto 
the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to- 
day, and seethe that ye will seethe ; and 
that which remaineth over lay up for you, 
to be kept until the morning. Luke xxiii. 
54. And that day was the preparation, and 
the sabbath drew on. Ver. 56. And they 
returned, and prepared spices and ointments; 
and rested the sabbath-day, according to the 
commandment. Compared with Mark xv. 
42. And now, when the even was come, 
(because it tuas the preparation, that is, the 
day before the sabbath.) Neh. xiii. 19. And 
it came to pass, that when the gates of 
J erusalem began to be dark before the sab- 
bath, I commanded that the gates should be 
shut, and charged that they should not be 
opened till after the sabbath: and some of 
my servants set I at the gates, that there 
should no burden be brought in on the sabbath- 
day. 

i Ps. xcii. [title, A psalm or song for 
the sabbath-day.'] Compared with Ver. 13. 
Those that be planted in the house of the 
Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 
And Ver. 14. They shall still bring forth fruit 
in old age ; they shall he fat and flourishing. 
Ezek. xx. 12. Moreover also, / gave them 
my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and 
them, that they might know that I am the 
Lord that sanctify them. Ver. 19. I am 
the Lord your God ; walk in my statutes, 
and keep my judgments, and do them ; 



Ver. 20. And hallow my sabbaths ; and 
they shall be a sign between me and you, 
that ye may know that I am the Lord your 
God. 

r Gen. ii. 2. And on the seventh day God 
ended his work which he had made ; and he 
rested on the seventh day from all his work 
which he had made. Ver. 3. And God 
blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; be- 
cause that in it he had rested from all his work 
which God created and made. Ps. cxviii. 
22. The stone which the builders refused is 
become the head stone of the corner. Ver. 24. 
This is the day which the Lord hath made; 
we will rejoice and be glad in it. Com- 
pared with Acts iv. 10. Be it known unto 
you all, and to all the people of Israel, that 
by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, 
whom ye crucified, whom God raised from 
the dead, even by him doth this man stand 
here before you whole. Ver. 1 1 . This is 
the stone which was set at nought of you 
builders, which is become the head of the cor- 
ner. Eev. i. 10. / was in the Spirit on the 
Lord's day, and heard behind me a great- 
voice, as of a trumpet. 

s Ezek. xxii. 26. Her priests have violated 
my law, and have profaned mine holy 
things : they have put no difference be- 
tween the holy and profane, neither have 
they shewed difference between the unclean 
and the clean, and have hid their eyes from 
my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 

4 Neh. ix. 14. And madest known unto 
them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst 
them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the 
hand of Moses thy servant. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



209 



natural liberty in things at other times lawful; 7 that it 
cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses 
come between, and too often take off our minds from think- 
ing of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it ; vv and that 
Satan with his instruments much labour to blot out the 
glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion 
and impiety.* 

Q. 122. What is the sum of the six commandments which 
contain our duty to man f 

A. The sum of the six commandments which contain our 
duty to man, is, to love our neighbour as ourselves/ and to 
do to others what we would have them to do to us. z 

Q. 123. Which is the fifth commandment? 

A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and 
thy mother : that thy days may be long upon the land which 
the Lord thy God giveth thee* 

Q. 124. Who are meant by father and mother in the fifth 
commandment ? 

A. By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are 
meant, not only natural parents, b but all superiors in age c 



v Exod. xxxiv. 21. Six days thou shalt 
work ; but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: 
in earing-time and in harvest thou shalt rest. 

w Deut. v. 14. But the seventh day is the 
sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou 
shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, 
nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, 
nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor 
thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy 
stranger that is within thy gates ; that thy 
man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest 
as well as thou. Ver. 15. And remember 
that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, 
and that the Lord thy God brought thee 
out thence through a mighty hand, and by 
a stretched-out arm : therefore the Lord thy 
God commanded thee to keep the sabbath-day. 
Amos viii. 5. Saying, When will the new- 
moon be gone, that we may sell corn ? and 
the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, 
making the ephah small, and the shekel 
great, and falsifying the balances by de- 
ceit ? 

x Lam. i. 7. Jerusalem remembered in 
the days of her affliction, and of her mise- 
ries, all her pleasant things that she had 
in the days of old, when her people fell 
into the hand of the enemy, and none did 
help her : the adversaries saw her, and did 
mock at her sabbaths. Jer. xvii. 21. Thus 
saith the Lord, Take heed to yourselves, and 



bear no burden on the sabbath-day, nor bring 
it in by the gates of Jerusalem ; Ver. 22. 
Neither carry forth a burden out of your 
houses on the sabbath-day, neither do ye 
any work ; but hallow ye the sabbath-day, 
as I commanded your fathers. Ver. 23. 
But they obeyed not, neither inclined their 
ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might 
not hear, nor receive instruction. Neh. xiii. 
from verse 15 to 23. In those days saw I 
in Judah some treading wine-presses on the 
sabbath-day. — [See in letter b .] 

122. y Matt. xxii. 39. And the second is 
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as 
thyself 

z Matt. vii. 12. Therefore all things what- 
soever ye would that men should do to you, do 
ye even so to them : for this is the law and 
the prophets. 

123. a Exod. xx. 12. 

124. b Prov. xxiii. 22. Hearken unto thy 
father that begat thee, and despise not thy 
mother when she is old. Ver. 25. Thy 
father and thy mother shall be glad, and she 
that bare thee shall rejoice. Eph. vi. 1. ChiU 
dren, obey your parents in the Lord: for 
this is right. Ver. 2. Honour thy father 
and mother, (which is the first command- 
ment with promise.) 

c 1 Tim. v. 1. Rebuke not an elder, hut 
entreat him as a father; and the younger 




210 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



and gifts ; d and especially such as, by God's ordinance, are 
over us in place of authority, whether in family/ church/ 
or commonwealth. 5 

Q. 125. Why are superiors stiled Father and Mother ? 

A. Superiors are stiled Father and Mother, both to teach 
them in all duties toward their inferiors, like natural parents, 
to express love and tenderness to them, according to their 
several relations ; h and to work inferiors to a greater willing- 
ness and cheerfulness in performing their duties to their 
superiors, as to their parents. 1 

Q. 126. What is the general scope of the fifth commandment? 

A. The general scope of the fifth commandment is, the 
performance of those duties which we mutually owe in our 
several relations, as inferiors, superiors, or equals.* 



men as brethren ; Ver. 2. The elder women 
as mothers ; the younger as sisters, with 
all purity. 

d Gen. iv. 20. And Adah bare Jabal : 
he was the father of such as dwell in tents, 
and of such as have cattle. Ver. 21. And 
his brother's name was Jubal : he was the 
father of all such as handle the harp and 
organ. Ver. 22. And Zillah, she also bare 
Tubal-cain, an instructer of every artificer 
in brass and iron. Gen. xlv. 8. So now, 
it was not you that sent me hither, but 
God : and he hath made me a father to 
Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a 
ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 

e 2 Kings v. 13. And his servants came 
near, and spake unto him, and said, My 
father, if the prophet had bid thee do some 
great thing, wouldest thou not have done 
it ? how much rather then, when he saith 
to thee, Wash, and be clean ? 

f 2 Kings ii. 12. And Elisha saw it, and 
he cried, My father, my father I the chariot 
of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. — 
2 Kings xiii. 14. Now Elisha was fallen 
sick of his sickness whereof he died. And 
J oash the king of Israel came down unto 
him, and wept over his face, and said, 
my father, my father! the chariot of 
Israel, and the horsemen thereof! Gal. 
iv. 19. My little children, of whom I travail 
in birth again until Christ be formed in 
you. 

g Isa. xlix. 23. And kings shall be thy 
nursing-fathers, and their queens thy nursing- 
mothers : they shall bow down to thee with 
their face toward the earth, and lick up 
the dust of thy feet ; and thou shalt know 
that I am the Lord : for they shall not be 
ashamed that wait for me. 



125. h Eph. vi. 4. And, ye fathers, provoke 
not your children to wrath ; but bring them 
up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 
2 Cor. xii. 14. For the children ought not 
to lay up for the parents, but the parents for 
the children. 1 Thess. ii. 7. But we were 
gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth 
her children : Ver. 8. So, being affectionately 
desirous of you, we were willing to have 
imparted unto you, not the gospel of God 
only, but also our own souls, because ye were 
dear unto us. Ver. 11. As ye know how 
we exhorted and comforted, and charged every 
one of you, (as a father doth his children.) 
Numb. xi. 11. And Moses said unto the 
Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy ser- 
vant ? and wherefore have I not found 
favour in thy sight, that thou layest the 
burden of all this people upon me ? Ver. 
12. Have I conceived all this people ? have 
I begotten them, that thou shouldest say 
unto me, Carry them in thy bosom (as a 
nursing -father beareth the sucking child) unto 
the land which thou swarest unto their 
fathers ? 

i 1 Cor. iv. 14. I write not these things 
to shame you, but, as my beloved sons, I 
warn you. Ver. 15. For though ye have 
ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have 
ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus / 
have begotten you through the gospel. Ver. 

16. Wherefore, I beseeech you, be ye followers 
of me. 2 Kings v. 13. [See letter e .] 

126. k Eph. v. 21. Submitting yourselves 
one to another in the fear of God. 1 Pet. ii. 

17. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. 
Fear God. Honour the king. Eom. xii. 1 0. 
Be kindly affectioned one to another with 
brotherly love; in honour preferring one 
another. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



211 



127. 

? 



What is the honour that inferiors owe to their 



Q. 

superiors 

A. The honour which inferiors owe to their superiors is, 
all due reverence in heart, 1 word, m and behaviour ; n prayer 
and thanksgiving for them ;° imitation of their virtues and 
graces ; p willing obedience to their lawful commands and 
counsels ; q due submission to their corrections ; r fidelity 



127. 1 Mai. i. 6. A son honour eth his 
father, and a servant his master : if then 1 
be a father, where is mine honour? and if I 
be a master, where is my fear ? saith the 
Lord of hosts unto you, priests, that 
despise my name. And ye say, Wherein 
have we despised thy name ? Lev. xix. 3. 
Ye shall fear every man his mother and his 
father, and keep my sabbaths : I am the 
Lord your God. 

m Prov. xxxi. 28. Her children arise up, 
and call her blessed ; her husband also, and 
he praiseth her. 1 Pet. iii. 6. Even as 
Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: 
whose daughters ye are as long as ye do 
well, and are not afraid with any amaze- 
ment. 

n Lev. xix. 32. Thou shalt rise up before 
the hoary head, and honour the face of the old 
man, and fear thy God : I am the Lord. 
1 Kings ii. 19. Bath-sheba therefore went 
unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for 
Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet 
her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat 
down on his throne, and caused a seat to 
be set for the king's mother ; and she sat 
on his right hand. 

1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, 
first of all, supplications, prayers, interces- 
sions, and giving of thanks, be made for all 
men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that 
are in authority ; that we may lead a quiet 
and peaceable life in all godliness and 
honesty. 

p Heb. xiii. 7. Eemember them which 
have the rule over you, who have spoken 
unto you the word of God ; whose faith 
follow, considering the end of their con- 
versation. Phil. iii. 17. Brethren, be fol- 
lowers together of me, and mark them which 
walk so, as ye have us for an ensample. 

1 Eph. vi. 1. Children, obey your parents 
in the Lord: for this is right. Ver. 2. 
Honour thy father and mother, (which is 
the first commandment with promise.) 
Ver. 5. Servants, be obedient to them that 
are your masters according to the flesh, with 
fear and trembling, in singleness of your 
heart, as unto Christ ; Ver, 6. Not with 
eye service, as men-pleasers ; but as the 



servants of Christ, doing the will of God 
from the heart ; Ver. 7. With good will doing 
service, as to the Lord, and not to men. 1 
Pet. ii. 13. Submit yourselves to every ordi- 
nance of man for the Lord's sake: whether 
it be to the king, as supreme ; Ver. 14. 
Or unto governors, as unto them that are 
sent by him for the punishment of evil- 
doers, and for the praise of them that do 
well. Rom. xiii. 1 . Let every soul be sub- 
ject unto the higher powers. For there is 
no power but of God : the powers that be 
are ordained of God. Ver. 2. Whosoever 
therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the 
ordinance of God ; and they that resist 
shall receive to themselves damnation. 
Ver. 3. For rulers are not a terror to 
good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou 
then not be afraid of the power ? Do 
that which is good, and thou shalt have 
praise of the same : Ver. 4. For he is the 
minister of God to thee for good. But if 
thou do that which is evil, be afraid ; for 
he beareth not the sword in vain : for he 
is the minister of God, a revenger to 
execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. 
Ver. 5. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, 
not only for wrath, but also for conscience 
sake. Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have 
the rule over you, and submit yourselves: 
for they watch for your souls, as they 
that must give account ; that they may 
do it with joy, and not with grief : for 
that is unprofitable for you. Prov. iv. 3. 
For I was my father's son, tender and 
only beloved in the sight of my mother. 
Ver. 4. He taught me also, and said unto 
me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep 
my commandments, and live. Prov. xxiii. 
22. Hearken unto thy father that begat 
thee, and despise not thy mother when 
she is old. Exod. xviii. 19. Hearken now 
unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, 
and God shall be with thee. Ver. 24. 
So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father- 
in-law, and did all that he had said. 

r Heb. xii. 9. Furthermore, we have 
had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, 
and we gave them reverence : shall we not 
much rather be in subjection unto the 



212 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



to/ defence/ and maintenance of their persons and autho- 
rity, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their 
places ; v bearing with their infirmities, and covering them 
in love/ that so they may be an honour to them and to 
their governments 

Q. 128. What are the sins of inferiors against their 
superiors? 

A. The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all 
neglect of the duties required toward them ; y envying 



Father of spirits, and live ? 3 Pet. ii. 18. 

Servants, be subject to your masters with all 
fear : not only to the good and gentle, but 
also to the froioard. Ver. 19. For this is 
thank-worthy, if a man for conscience toward 
God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. Ver. 
20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be 
buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it 
patiently ? but if, when ye do well, and 
suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is 
acceptable with God. 

s Tit. ii. 9. Exhort servants to be obe- 
dient unto their own masters, and to 
please them well in all things ; not an- 
swering again; Ver. 10. Not purloining, 
but shewing all good fidelity ; that they 
may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour 
in all things. 

* 1 Sam. xxvi. 15. And David said to 
Abner, Art not thou a valiant man ? and 
who is like to thee in Israel ? wherefore 
then hast thou not kept thy lord the king ? 
for there came one of the people in to 
destroy the king thy lord. Ver. 16. This 
thing is not good that thou hast done. 
As the Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, 
because ye have not kept your master, the 
Lord's anointed. 2 Sam. xviii. 3. But the 
people answered, Thou shalt not go forth : 
for if we flee away, they will not care for 
us; neither if half of us die, will they 
care for us: but now thou art worth ten 
thousand of us: therefore now it is better 
that thou succour us out of the city. 
Esther vi. 2. And it was found written, 
that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and 
Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, 
the keepers of the door, who sought to lay 
hand on the king Ahasuerus. 

▼ Matt. xxii. 21. They say unto him, 
Cesar's. Then he saith unto them, Render 
therefore unto Cesar the things ivhich are 
Cesar's; and unto God the things that 
are God's. Rom. xiii. 6. For, for this 
cause pay ye tribute also: for they are 
God's ministers, attending continually 
upon this very thing. Ver. 7. Render 



therefore to all their dues : tribute to whom 
tribute is due ; custom to whom custom ; 
fear to whom fear ; honour to whom honour. 
1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule well 
be counted worthy of double honour, especially 
they who labour in the word and doctrine. 
Ver. 18. For the scripture saith, Thou 
shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out 
the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of 
his reward. Gal. vi. 6. Let him that is 
taught in the word communicate unto him 
that teacheth in all good things. Gen. xlv. 
11. And there will I nourish thee, (for yet 
there are five years of famine,) lest thou, 
and thy household, and all that thou hast, 
come to poverty. Gen. xlvii. 12. And 
Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, 
and all his father's household, with bread, 
according to their families. 

w 1 Pet. ii. 18. Servants, be subject to 
your masters with all fear ; not only to the 
good and gentle, but also to the froward. 
Prov. xxiii. 22. Hearken unto thy father 
that begat thee, and despise not thy mother 
when she is old. Gen. ix. 23. And Shem 
and Japheth took a garment, and laid it 
upon both their shoulders, and went back- 
ward, and covered the nakedness of their 
father: and their faces were backward, 
and they saw not their father's nakedness. 

x Ps. cxxvii. 3. Lo, children are an heri- 
tage of the Lord : and the fruit of the xoomb 
is his reward. Ver. 4. As arrows are in 
the hand of a mighty man ; so are children 
of the youth. Ver, 5, Happy is the man 
that hath his quiver full of them : they shall 
not be ashamed, but they shall speak with 
the enemies in the gate. Prov. xxxi. 23. 
Her husband is known in the gates, when he 
sitteth among the elders of the land. 

128. y Matt. xv. 4. For God commanded, 
saying, Honour thy father and mother : 
and, He that curseth father or mother, let 
him die the death. Ver. 5. But ye say, 
Whosoever shall say to his father or his 
mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou 
mightest be profited by me, Ver. 6. And 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



213 



at/ contempt of/ and rebellion b against, their persons c and 
places/ in their lawful counsels/ commands, and correc- 
tions ; f cursing, mocking/ and all such refractory and 
scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonour to 
them and their government. 11 

Q. 129. What is required of superiors towards their 
inferiors f 

A. It is required of superiors, according to that power 
they receive from God, and that relation wherein they 
stand, to love/ pray for/ and bless their inferiors; 1 to 



honour not his father or his mother, he shall 
be free. Thus have ye made the command- 
ment of God of none effect by your tradition. 

z Numb. xi. 28. And Joshua the son of 
Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his 
young men, answered and said, My lord 
Moses, forbid them. Ver. 29. And Moses 
said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake ? 
Would God that all the Lord's people were 
prophets, and that the Lord would put his 
Spirit upon them ! 

» 1 Sam. viii. 7. And the Lord said 
unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of 
the people in all that they say unto thee : 
for they have not rejected thee, but they have 
rejected me, that I should not reign over 
them. Isa. iii. 5. And the people shall 
be oppressed, every one by another, and 
every one by his neighbour : the child shall 
behave himself proudly against the ancient, 
and the base against the honourable. 

b 2 Sam. xv. from Ver. 1 to 12. And 
it came to pass after this, that Absalom 
prepared him chariots and horses, etc. 

c Exod. xxi. 15. And he that smiteth his 
father or his mother shall be surely put to 
death. 

d 1 Sam. x. 27. But the children of 
Belial said, How shall this man save us ? 
And they despised him, and brought him 
no presents ; but he held his peace. 

e 1 Sam. ii. 25. Notwithstanding, they 
(viz. the sons of Eli) hearkened not unto 
the voice of their father, because the Lord 
would slay them. 

f Deut xxi. 18. If a man have a stub- 
born and rebellious son, which will not 
obey the voice of his father, or the voice 
of his mother, and that, when they have 
chastened him, will not hearken unto them ; 
Ver. 19. Then shall his father and his 
mother lay hold on him, and bring him 
out unto the elders of his city, and unto 
the gate of his place : Ver. 20. And they 
shall say unto the elders of his city, 



This our son is stubborn and rebellious, 
he will not obey our voice ; he is a glutton 
and a drunkard. Ver. 21. And all the 
men of his city shall stone him with stones, 
that he die : so shalt thou put evil away 
from among you ; and all Israel shall hear, 
and fear. 

g Prov. xxx. 11. There is a generation 
that curseth their father, and doth not bless 
their mother. Ver. 17. The eye that mocketh 
at his father, and despiseth to obey his 
mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick 
it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 

h Prov. xix. 26. He that wasteth his 
father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son 
that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 

129. « Col. iii. 19. Husbands, love your 
wives, and be not bitter against them. 
Tit. ii. 4. That they may teach the young 
women to be sober, to love their husbands, 
to love their children. 

x 1 Sam. xii. 23. Moreover, as for me, 
God forbid that I should sin against the 
Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I 
will teach you the good and the right 
way. Job i. 5. And it was so, when the 
days of their feasting were gone about, 
that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose 
up early in the morning, and offered burnt- 
offerings according to the number of them 
all: for Job said, It may be that my 
sons have sinned, and cursed God in their 
hearts. Thus did Job continually. 

1 1 Kings viii. 55. And he stood, and 
blessed all the congregation of Israel with 
a loud voice, saying, Ver. 56. Blessed be 
the Lord, that hath given rest unto his 
people Israel, according to all that he 
promised : there hath not failed — Heb. vii. 
,7. And, without all contradiction, the less 
is blessed of the better. Gen. xlix. 28. 
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel : 
and this is it that their father spake unto 
them, and blessed them; every one according 
to his blessing he blessed them. 



214 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



instruct," 1 counsel, and admonish them; n countenancing, 
commending/ and rewarding such as do well ; q and dis- 
countenancing/ reproving, and chastising such as do ill ; 3 
protecting/ and providing for them all things necessary 
for soul v and body : w and by grave, wise, holy, and ex- 
emplary carriage, to procure glory to God/ honour to 
themselves/ and so to preserve that authority which God 
hath put upon them. 55 



m Deut. vi. 6. And these words, which 
I command thee this day, shall be in 
thine heart ; Ver. 7. And thou shalt teach 
them diligently unto thy children, and shalt 
talk of them when thou sittest in thine 
house, and when thou walkest by the way, 
and when thou liest down, and when thou 
risest up. 

n Eph. vi. 4. And, ye fathers, provoke 
not your children to wrath; but bring 
them up in the nurture and admonition of 
the Lord. 

1 Pet. iii. 7. Likewise, ye husbands, 
dwell with them according to knowledge, 
giving honour unto the wife, as unto the 
weaker vessel, and as being heirs together 
of the grace of life ; that your prayers be 
not hindered. 

p 1 Pet. ii. 14. Or unto governors, as 
unto them that are sent by him for the 
punishment of evil-doers, and, for the praise 
of them that do well. Eom. xiii. 3. For 
rulers are not a terror to good works, but 
to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid 
of the power ? Do that which is good, and 
thou shalt have praise of the same. 

v Esth. vi. 3. And the king said, What 
honour and dignity hath been done to 
Mordecai for this ? Then said the king's 
servants that ministered unto him, There 
is nothing done for him. 

r Rom. xiii. 3. For rulers are not a 
terror to good works, but to the evil, Wilt 
thou then not be afraid of the power ? 
Do that which is good, and thou shalt 
have praise of the same : Ver. 4. For he 
is the minister of God to thee for good. 
But if thou do that which is evil, be 
afraid ; for he beareth not the sword in 
vain; for he is the minister of God, a 
revenger to execute wrath upon him that 
doeth evil. 

s Prov. xxix. 15. The rod and reproof 
give tvisdom: but a child left to himself 
bringeth his mother to shame. 1 Pet. ii. 
14. [See above in letter p.] 

* Job xxix. 12. Because / delivered the 
poor tliat cried, and the fatherless, and him 



that had none to help him. Ver. 13. The 
blessing of him that was ready to perish 
came upon me: and / caused the widow's 
heart to sing for joy. Ver. 14. I put 
on righteousness, and it clothed me : my 
judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 
Ver. 15. I was eyes to the blind, and feet 
was I to the lame. Ver. 16. I was a father 
to the poor ; and the cause which I knew 
not I searched out. Ver. 17. And / 
brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked 
the spoil out of his teeth. Isa. i. 10. Hear 
the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom ; 
give ear unto the law of our God, ye 
people of Gomorrah. Ver. 17. Learn 
to do well ; seek judgment ; relieve the 
oppressed ; judge the fatherless ; plead for 
the widow. 

v Eph. vi. 4. And, ye fathers, provoke 
not your children to wrath ; but bring 
them up in the nurture and admonition of 
the Lord. 

* 1 Tim. v. 8. But if any provide not 
for his own, and specially for those of his 
own house, he hath denied the faith, and is 
worse than an infidel. 

x 1 Tim. iv. 12. Let no man despise 
thy youth ; but be thou an example of the 
believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, 
in spirit, in faith, in purity. Tit. ii. 3. 
The aged women likewise, that they be in 
behaviour as becometh holiness, not false 
accusers, not given to much wine, teachers 
of good things ; Ver. 4. That they may 
teach the young women to be sober, to love 
their husbands, to love their children, 
Ver. 5. To be discreet, chaste, keepers at 
home, good, obedient to their own hus- 
bands, that the word of God be not blas- 
phemed. 

y 1 Kings iii. 28. And all Israel heard 
of the judgment which the king had 
judged; and they feared the king : for they 
saw that the wisdom of God was in him to 
do judgment. 

z Tit. ii. 15. These things speak, and 
exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



215 



Q. 130. What are the sins of superiors? 

A, The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the 
duties required of them, a an inordinate seeking of them- 
selves, b their own glory, ease, profit, or pleasure ; d com- 
manding things unlawful, 6 or not in the power of inferiors 
to perform ; f counselling, 8 encouraging, 11 or favouring them 
in that which is evil ; 1 dissuading, discouraging, or dis- 
countenancing them in that which is good; k correcting 
them unduly ; 1 careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, 

130. a Ezek. xxxiv. 2. Son of man, 
prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, 
prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith 
the Lord God unto the shepherds, Woe 
be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed 
themselves! should not the shepherds feed 
the flocks ? Ver. 3. Ye eat the fat, and 
ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them 
that are fed : but ye feed not the flock. 
Ver. 4. The diseased have ye not strength- 
ened, neither have ye healed that which was 
sick, neither have ye bound up that which 
was broken, neither have ye brought again 
that which was driven away, neither have 
ye sought that which was lost ; but with 
force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. 

b Phil. ii. 21. For all seek their own, not 
the things which are Jesus Christ's. 

c John v. 44. How can ye believe, which 
receive honour one of another, and seek not 
the honour that cometh from God only ? 
John vii. 18. He that speaketh of himself 
seeketh his own glory : but he that seeketh 
his glory that sent him, the same is true, 
and no unrighteousness is in him. 

d Isa. lvi. 1 0. His watchmen are blind : 
they are all ignorant, they are all dumb 
dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying 
down, loving to slumber. Ver. 11. Yea, 
they are greedy dogs which can never have 
enough, and they are shepherds that can- 
not understand : they all look to their own 
way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. 
Deut. xvii. 17. Neither shall he multiply 
wives to himself, that his heart turn not 
away ; neither shall he greatly multiply to 
himself silver and gold. 

e Dan. iii. 4. Then an herald cried aloud, 
To you it is commanded, people, nations, 
and languages, Ver. 5. That at what 
time ye hear the sound of the cornet, 
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, 
and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and 
worship the golden image that Nebuchad- 
nezzar the king hath set up : Ver. 6. And 
whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, 
shall the same hour be cast into the midst 



of a burning fiery furnace. Acts iv. 17, 
But, that it spread no further among the 
people, let us straitly threaten them, that 
they speak henceforth to no man in this 
name. Ver. 18. And they called them, 
and commanded them not to speak at all, nor 
teach, in the name of Jesus. 

fExod. v. from Ver. 10 to 18. And the 
taskmasters of the people went out, and 
their officers, and they spake to the people, 
saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give 
you straw, &c. Matt, xxiii. 2. Saying, 
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' 
seat. Ver. 4. For they bind heavy bur- 
dens, and grievous to be borne. 

« Matt. xiv. 8. And she, being before 
instructed of her mother, said, Give me here 
John Baptist's head in a charger. Com- 
pared with Mark vi. 24. And she went 
forth, and said unto her mother. What shall 
I ask? And she said, The head of John 
the Baptist. 

h 2 Sam. xiii. 28. Now Absalom had 
commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye 
now when Amnon's heart is merry with 
wine, and when I say unto you, Smite 
Amnon ; then kill him, fear not: have not 
I commanded you? be courageous, and be 
valiant. 

1 1 Sam. iii. 13. For I have told him, 
that I will judge his house for ever, for 
the iniquity which he knoweth ; because 
his sons made themselves vile, and he re- 
strained them not. 

k John vii. 46. The officers answered, 
Never man spake like this man. Ver. 
47. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are 
ye also deceived ? Ver. 48. Have any of 
the rulers, or of the Pharisees, believed 
on him ? Ver. 49. But this people, who 
knoweth not the law, are cursed. Col. iii. 
21. Fathers, provoke not your children to 
anger, lest they be discouraged. Exod. v. 17. 
But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore 
ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. 

1 1 Pet. ii. 18. Servants, be subject to 
your masters with all fear; not only to 



216 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



temptation, and danger ; m provoking them to wrath ; n or 
any way dishonouring themselves, or lessening their au- 
thority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss be- 
haviour. 

Q. 131. What are the duties of equals ? 

A. The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and 
worth of each other, p in giving honour to go one before 
another ; q and to rejoice in each others gifts and advance- 
ment, as their own/ 



the good and gentle, but also to the fro- 
war d. Ver. 19. For this is thank-worthy, 
if a man for conscience toward God en- 
dure grief, suffering wrongfully. Ver. 20. 
For what glory is it, if, when ye be 
buffeted for your faults, ye shall take 
it patiently ? but if when ye do well, and 
suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is 
acceptable with God. Heb. xii. 10. For 
they verily for a few days chastened us 
after their own pleasure; but he for our 
profit, that we might be partakers of his 
holiness. Deut. xxv. 3. Forty stripes he 
may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he 
should exceed, and beat him above these 
with many stripes, then thy brother should 
seem vile unto thee. 

m Gen. xxxviii. 11. Then said Judah 
to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a 
widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my 
son be grown: (for he said, Lest perad- 
venture he die also, as his brethren did.) 
And Tamar went and dwelt in her 
father's house. Ver. 26. And Judah 
acknowledged them, and said, She hath 
been more righteous than I; because that I 
gave her not to Shelah my son: and he 
knew her again no more. Acts xviii. 17. 
Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the 
chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat 
him before the judgment-seat : and Gallio 
cared for none of those things. 

D Eph. vi. 4. And, ye fathers, provoke 
not your children to wrath; but bring 
them up in the nurture and admonition 
of the Lord. 

Gen. ix. 21. And he drank of the 
wine, and was drunken; and he was un- 
covered within his tent. 1 Kings xii. 13. 
And the king (Rehoboam) answered the 
people roughly, and forsook the old men's 
counsel that they gave him ; Ver. 14. 
And spake to them after the counsel of 
the young men, saying, My father made 
your yoke heavy, and I will add to your 
yoke: my father also chastised you \>ith 
uhips, but I will chastise you with scorpions, 



Ver. 15. Wherefore the king hearkened 
not unto the people ; for the cause was 

from the Lord Ver. 16. So when all 

Israel saw that the king hearkened not 
unto them, the people answered the king, 
saying, What portion have we in David ? 
neither have we inheritance in the son 
of Jessie : to your tents, Israel : now 
see to thine own house, David. So Israel 
departed unto their tents. 1 Kings i. 6. 
And his father had not displeased him (viz. 
Adonijah) at any time in saying, Why 
hast thou done so ? 1 Sam. ii. 29. Where- 
fore kick ye at my sacrifice, and at mine 
offering, which I have commanded in my 
habitation ; and honourest thy sons above 
me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest 
of all the offerings of Israel my people ? 
Ver. 30. Wherefore the Lord God of Israel 
saith, I said indeed, that thy house, and 
the house of thy father, should walk be- 
fore me for ever : but now the Lord saith, 
Be it far from me ; for them that honour 
me I will honour, and they that despise me 
shall be lightly esteemed. Ver. 31. Behold, 
the days come, that I will cut off thine 
arm, and the arm of thy father's house, 
that there shall not be an old man in 
thine house. 

131. p 1 Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. 
Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour 
the king. 

i Bom. xii. 10. Be kindly affectioned 
one to another with brotherly love ; in 
honour preferring one another. 

r Rom. xii. 15. Rejoice with them that 
do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 
Ver. 16. Be of the same mind one toward 
another. Mind, not high things, but con- 
descend to men of low estate. Be not 
wise in your own conceits. Phil. ii. 3. 
Let nothing be done through strife or 
vain-glory; but in lowliness of mind let 
each esteem other better than themselves. 
Ver. 4. Look not every man on his own 
things, but every man also on the things of 
others. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



217 



Q. 132. What are the sins of equals? 

A. The sins of equals are, besides the neglect of the 
duties required/ the undervaluing of the worth/ envying 
the gifts/ grieving at the advancement or prosperity- 
one of another ; w and usurping pre-eminence one over 
another. x 

Q. 133. What is the reason annexed to the fifth command- 
ment, the more to enforce it f 

A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in 
these words, That thy days may he long upon the land which 
the Lord thy God giveth thee, 7 is an express promise of long 
life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God's glory 
and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment. 55 

Q. 134. Which is the sixth commandment? 

A, The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not hill* 

Q. 135. What are the duties required in the sixth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The duties required in the sixth commandment are, 
all careful studies, and lawful endeavours, to preserve the 
life of ourselves b and others by resisting all thoughts and 



132. 8 Rom. xiii. 8. Owe no man any 
thing, but to love one another : for he that 
loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 

* 2 Tim. iii. 3. Without natural affection, 
truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, 
fierce, despisers of those that are good. 

y Acts vii. 9. And the patriarchs, moved 
with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but 
God was with him. Gal. v. 26. Let us 
not be desirous of vain- glory, provoking 
one another, envying one another. 

w Numb. xii. 2. And they said, Hath the 
Lord indeed spoken only by Moses ? hath he 
not spoken also by us ? And the Lord 
heard it. Esth. vi. 12. And Mordecai came 
again to the king's gate : but Hainan hasted 
to his house mourning, and having his head 
covered. Ver. 13. And Haman told Zeresh 
his wife and all his friends every thing 
that had befallen him. Then said his wise 
men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If 
Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, be- 
fore whom thou hast begun to fall, thou 
shalt not prevail against him, but shalt 
surely fall before him. 

x 3 John, Ver. 9. I wrote unto the 
church : but Diotrephes, who loveth to have 
the pre-eminence among them, receive th us 
not. Luke xxii. 24. And there was also 
a strife among them, which of them should be 
accounted the greatest. 



133. y Exod. xx. 12. 

z Deut. v. 16. Honour thy father and 
thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath 
commanded thee; that thy days may be 
prolonged, and that it may go well with 
thee, in the land which the Lord thy 
God giveth thee. 1 Kings viii. 25. There- 
fore now, Lord God of Israel, keep with 
thy servant David my father that thou pro- 
misedst him, saying, There shall not fail 
thee a man in my sight to sit on the 
throne of Israel ; so that thy children take 
heed to their way, that they walk before 
me as thou hast walked before me. Eph. 
vi. 2. Honour thy father and mother, 
(which is the first commandment with 
promise,) Ver. 3. That it may be well 
with thee, and thou mayest live long on 
the earth. 

134. » Exod. xx. 13. 

135. b Eph. v. 28. So ought men to love 
their wives as their own bodies: he that 
loveth his wife loveth himself. Ver. 29. 
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh ; but 
nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord 
the church. 

c 1 Kings xviii. 4. For it was so, when 
Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, 
that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and 
hid them, by fifty in a cave, and fed them with 
bread and water. 



218 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



purposes/ subduing all passions, 6 and avoiding all occa- 
sions/ temptations/ and practices, which tend to the unjust 
taking away the life of any ; h by just defence thereof against 
violence/ patient bearing of the hand of God/ quietness of 



a Jer xxvi. 1 5. But know ye for cer- 
tain, that, if ye put me to death, ye shall 
surely bring innocent blood upon your- 
selves, and upon this city, and upon the 
inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the 
Lord hath sent me unto you, to speak all 
these words in your ears. Ver. 16. Then 
said the princes and all the people unto the 
priests, and to the prophets, This man is not 
worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in 
the name of the Lord our God. Acts xxiii. 
12. And when it was day, certain of the 
Jews banded together, and bound them- 
selves under a curse, saying that they 
would neither eat nor drink till they had 
killed Paul. Ver. 16. And when Paul's 
sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he 
went and entered into the castle and told Paul. 
Ver. 17. Then Paul called one of the cen- 
turions unto him, and said, Bring this young 
man unto the chief captain : for he hath a 
certain thing to tell him. Ver. 21. But 
do not thou yield unto them : for there lie 
in wait for him of them more than forty 
men, which have bound themselves with 
an oath, that they will neither eat nor 
drink till they have killed him : and now 
are they ready, looking for a promise from 
thee. -Ver. 27. This man was taken of the 
Jews, and should have been killed of them : 
then came I with an army and rescued him, 
having understood that he was a Roman. 

e Eph. iv. 26. Be ye angry, and sin not : 
let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 
Ver. 27. Neither give place to the devil. 

f 2 Sam. ii. 22. And Abner said again to 
Asahel, Turn thee aside from following 
me: wherefore should I smite thee to the 
ground? Deut.xxii. 8. When thou buildest 
a new house, then thou shalt make a battle- 
ment for thy roof, that thou bring not blood 
upon thine house, if any man fall from 
thence. 

e Matt. iv. 6. And saith unto him, If 
thou be the Son of God, cast thyself 
down: — Ver. 7. Jesus said unto him, It 
is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the 
Lord thy God. Prov. i. 10. My son, if 
sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Ver. 
11. If they say, Come with us, let us lay 
wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the 
innocent without cause. Ver. 15. My son, 
walk not thou in the way with them: refrain 
thy foot from their path: Ver. 16. For their 



feet run to evil, and make haste to shed 
blood. 

h 1 Sam. xxiv. 12. The Lord judge be- 
tween me and thee, and the Lord avenge 
me of thee ; but mine hand shall not be upon 
thee. 1 Sam. xxvi. 9. And David said to 
Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can 
stretch forth his hand against the Lord's 
anointed, and be guiltless? Ver. 10. David 
said furthermore, As the Lord liveth, the 
Lord shall smite him; or his day shall 
come to die; or he shall descend into 
battle, and perish. Ver. 11. The Lord 
forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand 
against the Lord's anointed. Gen. xxxvii. 
21. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered 
him out of their hands ; and said, Let us not 
kill him. Ver. 22. And Reuben said unto 
them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this 
pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no 
hand upon him; that he might rid him out 
of their hands, to deliver him to his father 
again. 

1 Ps. lxxxii. 4. Deliver the poor and needy: 
rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Prov. 
xxiv. 11. If thou forbear to deliver them that 
are drawn unto death, and those that are ready 
to be slain; Ver. 12. If thousayest, Behold, 
we knew it not; doth not he that pon- 
dereth the heart consider it ? and he that 
keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and 
shall not he render to every man according 
to his works? 1 Sam. xiv. 45. And the 
people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, 
who hath wrought this great salvation in 
Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, 
there shall not one hair of his head fall to 
the ground ; for he hath wrought with God 
this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, 
that he died not. 

k James v. 7. Be patient therefore, bre- 
thren, unto the coming of the Lord. Be- 
hold, the husbandman waiteth for the 
precious fruit of the earth, and hath long 
patience for it, until he receive the early 
and latter rain. Ver. 8. Be ye also patient; 
stablish your hearts; for the coming of the 
Lord draweth nigh. Ver. 9. Grudge not 
one against another, brethren, lest ye be con- 
demned: behold, the Judge standeth before 
the door. Ver. 10. Take, my brethren, 
the prophets, who have spoken in the name 
of the Lord, for an example of suffering 
affliction, and of patience. Ver. 11. Behold, 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



219 



mind, 1 cheerfulness of spirit ; m a sober use of meat/ drink/ 
physick/ sleep/ labour/ and recreations; 8 by charitable 
thoughts/ love/ compassion/ meekness, gentleness, kind- 
ness ; x peaceable/ mild and courteous speeches and be- 
haviour; 2 forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient 



we count them happy which endure. Ye 
have heard of the patience of Job, and have 
seen the end of the Lord ; that the Lord 
is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Heb. 
xii. 9. Furthermore, we have had fathers 
of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave 
them reverence: shall we not much rather be 
in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and 
live? 

1 1 Thess. iv. 11. And that ye study to be 
quiet, and to do your own business, and to 
work with your own hands, as we com- 
manded you. 1 Pet. iii. 3. Whose adorn- 
ing, let it not be that outward adorning — 
Ver. 4. But let it be the hidden man of 
the heart, in that which is not corruptible, 
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, 
which is in the sight of God of great price. 
Ps. xxxvii. 8. Cease from anger, and forsake 
wrath: fret not thyself in anywise to do 
evil. Ver. 9. For evil-doers shall be cut 
off : but those that wait upon the Lord, they 
shall inherit the earth. Ver. 10. For yet 
a little while, and the wicked shall not be : 
yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, 
and it shall not be. Ver. 11. But the meek 
shall inherit the earth; and shall delight 
themselves in the abundance of peace. 

m Prov. xvii. 22. A merry heart doeth good 
like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth 
the bones. 

n Prov. xxv. 16. Hast thou found honey? 
eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou 
be filled therewith, and vomit it. Ver. 27. 
It is not good to eat much honey. 

1 Tim. v. 23. Drink no longer water, 
but use a little wine for thy stomach's 
sake, and thine often infirmities. 

p Isa. xxxviii. 21. For Isaiah had said, 
Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it 
for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall 
recover. 

9 Ps. cxxvii. 2. It is vain for you to 
rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread 
of sorrows : for so he giveth his beloved 
sleep. 

r Eccl. v. 12. The sleep of a labouring 
man is sweet, whether he eat little or 
much : but the abundance of the rich will 
not suffer him to sleep. 2 Thess. iii. 1 0. 
For even when we were with you, this 
we commanded you, that if any would not 
work, neither should he eat. Ver. 12. Now 



them that are such we command and ex- 
hort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with 
quietness they work, and eat their own 
bread. Prov. xvi. 26. He that laboureth, 
laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth 
it of him. 

s Eccl iii. 4. A time to weep, and a 
time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a' 
time to dance. Ver. 11. He hath made 
every thing beautiful in his time : also he 
hath set the world in their heart, etc. 

* 1 Sam. xix. 4. And Jonathan spake 
good of David unto Saul his father, and said 
unto him, Let not the king sin against 
his servant, — Ver. 5. For he did put his 
life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, 
and the Lord wrought a great salvation 
for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst 
rejoice : wherefore then wilt thou sin 
against innocent blood, to slay David 
without a cause? 1 Sam. xxii. 13. And 
Saul said unto him, Why have ye con- 
spired against me, thou and the son of 
Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, 
and a sword, — Ver. 14. Then Ahimelech 
answered the king, and said, And who is 
so faithful among all thy servants as David, 
which is the king's son-in-law, and goeth 
at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine 
house ? 

v Rom. xiii. 10. Love worketh no ill to 
his neighbour: therefore love is the ful- 
filling of the law. 

w Luke x. 33. But a certain Samaritan, 
as he journeyed, came where he was : and 
when he saw him, he had compassion on 
him, Ver. 34. And went to him, and 
bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and 
wine, and set him on his own beast, and 
brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

x Col. iii. 1 2. Put on therefore, as the 
elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of 
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meek- 
ness, long-suffering; Ver. 13. Forbearing 
one another, and forgiving one another, if 
any man have a quarrel against any : 
even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

y James iii. 17. But the wisdom that 
is from above is first pure, then peaceable, 
gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of 
mercy and good fruits, without partiality 
and without hypocrisy. 

z 1 Pet. iii. 8. Finally, be ye all of one 



220 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for 
evil ; a comforting and succouring the distressed, and pro- 
tecting and defending the innocent. b 

Q. 1 36. What are the sins forbidden in the sixth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the sixth commandment are, 
all taking away the life of ourselves, or of others/ except 
in case of publick justice, 6 lawful war, f or necessary de- 
fence; 8 the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and 



mind, having compassion one of another ; 
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous : 
Ver. 9. Not rendering evil for evil, or rail- 
ing for railing : but contrariwise blessing ; 
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that 
ye should inherit a blessing. Ver. 10. 
For he that will love life, and see good 
days, let Mm refrain his tongue from evil, 
and his lips that they speak no guile : Ver. 
11. Let him eschew evil, and do good ; let 
him seek peace, and ensue it. Prov. xv. 
1. A soft answer turneth away wrath ; but 
grievous words stir up anger. Judges 
viii. 1. And the men of Ephraim said 
unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, 
that thou calledst us not when thou went- 
est to fight with the Midianites ? And 
they did chide with him sharply. Ver. 2. 
And he said unto them, What have I done 
now in comparison of you ? Is not the 
gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better 
than the vintage of Abi-ezer ? Ver. 3. 
God hath delivered into your hands the 
princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb : and 
what was I able to do in comparison of 
you ? Then their anger was abated toward 
him when he had said that. 

a Matt. v. 24. Leave there thy gift be- 
fore the altar, and go thy way : first be 
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and 
offer thy gift. Eph. iv. 2. With all low- 
liness and meekness, with long-suffering, 
forbearing one another in love. Ver. 32. 
And be ye kind one to another, tender- 
hearted, forgiving one another, even as God 
for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Rom. 
xii. 17. Recompence to no man evil for 
evil. — Ver. 20. Therefore if thine enemy 
hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him 
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap 
coals of fire on his head. Ver. 21. Be 
not overcome of evil, but overcome evil 
with good. 

t> 1 Thess. v. 14. Now we exhort you, 
brethren, warn them that are unruly, 
comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, 
be patient toward all men. Job xxxi. 



19. If I have seen any perish for want of 
clothing, or any poor without covering ; Ver. 

20. If his loins have not blessed me, and 
if he were not warmed with the fleece of 
my sheep. Matt. xxv. 35. For I was an 
hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was 
thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a 
stranger, and ye took me in: Ver. 36. 
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and 
ye visited me : I was in prison, and ye came 
unto me. Prov. xxxi. 8. Open thy mouth 
for tJie dumb in the cause of all such as are 
appointed to destruction. Ver. 9. Open 
thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead 
the cause of the poor and needy. 

136. c Actsxvi. 28. But Paul cried with 
a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm ; 
for we are all here. 

a Gen. ix. 6. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, 
by man shall his blood be shed: for in the 
image of God made he man. 

e Numb. xxxv. 31. Moreover, ye shall 
take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, 
which is guilty of death; but he shall be 
surely put to death. Ver. 33. So ye shall 
not pollute the land wherein ye are ; for 
blood it defileth the land : and the land 
cannot be cleansed of the blood that is 
shed therein, but by the blood of him that 
shed it. 

f Jer. xlviii. 10. Cursed be he that doeth 
the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed 
be he that keepeth back his sword from 
blood. Deut. Chap. xx. throughout. Ver. 
1. When thou goest out to battle against 
thine enemies, and seest horses and chariots, 
and a people more than thou, be not afraid 
of them : for the Lord thy God is with 
thee, which brought thee up out of the 
land of Egypt, etc. 

g Exod. xxii. 2. If a thief be found 
breaking up, and be smitten that he die, 
there shall no blood be shed for him. Ver. 
3. If the sun be risen upon him, there 
shall be blood shed for him ; for he should 
make full restitution : if he have done 
nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



221 



necessary means of preservation of life ; h sinful anger/ 
hatred/ envy/ desire of revenge ; m all excessive passions, 11 
distracting cares ; immoderate use of meat, drink/ labour, q 
and recreations ; r provoking words, 3 oppression/ quarrel- 
ling/ striking, wounding/ and whatsoever else tends to 
the destruction of the life of any. x 



h Matt. xxv. 42. For / was an hungered, 
and ye gave me no meat : I was thirsty, and 
ye gave me no drink: Ver. 43. / was a 
stranger, and ye took me not in : naked, and 
ye clothed me not : sick, and in prison, and 
ye visited me not. James ii. 15. If a 
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of 
daily food, Ver. 16. And one of you say 
unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed 
and filled ; notwithstanding ye give them 
not those things which are needful to the 
body, what doth it profit ? Eccl. vi. 1 . 
There is an evil which I have seen under 
the sun, and it is common among men : 
Ver. 2. A man to whom God hath given 
riches, wealth, and honour, so that he want- 
eth nothing for his soul of all that he 
desireth, yet God giveth him not power to 
eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it : this 
is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 

1 Matt. v. 22. But I say unto you, That 
whosoever is angry with his brother without 
a cause shall be in danger of the judg- 
ment ; and whosoever shall say to his 
brother, Eaca, shall be in danger of the 
council; but whosoever shall say, Thou 
fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. 
| k 1 John iii. 15. Whosoever hateth his 
brother is a murderer : and ye know that 
no murderer hath eternal life abiding in 
him. Lev. xix. 17. Thou shalt not hate 
thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in 
any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not 
suffer sin upon him. 

1 Prov. xiv. 30. A sound heart is the life 
of the flesh : but envy the rottenness of the bones. 

m Kom. xii. 19. Dearly beloved, avenge 
not yourselves, but rather give place unto 
wrath : for it is written, Vengeance is mine; 
I will repay, saith the Lord. 

n Eph. iv. 31. Let all bitterness, and 
wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil- 
speaking, be put away from you, with all 
malice. 

Matt. vi. 31. Therefore take no thought, 
saying, What shall we eat ? or, What shall 
we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be 
clothed ? Ver. 34. Take therefore no thought 
for the morrow : for the morrow shall take 
thought for the things of itself. Suflicient 
unto the day is the evil thereof. 



p Luke xxi. 34. And take heed to your- 
selves, lest at any time your hearts be over- 
charged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and 
cares of this life, and so that day come 
upon you unawares. Kom. xiii. 13. Let 
us walk honestly, as in the day ; not in 
rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering 
and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 

i Eccl. xii. 12. And further, by these, 
my son, be admonished : of making many 
books there is no end ; and much study is 
a weariness of the flesh. Eccl. ii. 22. For 
what hath man of all his labour, and of 
the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath 
laboured under the sun ? Ver. 23. For all 
his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; 
yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. 
This is also vanity. 

r Isa. v. 12. And the harp and the viol, 
the tabret and pipe, and wine, are in their 
feasts: but they regard not the work of 
the Lord, neither consider the operation of 
his hand. 

s Prov. xv. 1. A soft answer turneth 
away wrath ; but grievous words stir up 
anger. Prov. xii. 18. There is that speaketh 
like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue 
of the wise is health. 

t Ezek. xviii. 18. As for his father, be- 
cause he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother 
by violence, and did that which is not good 
among his people, lo, even he shall die in 
his iniquity. Exod. i. 14. And they made 
their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, 
and in brick, and in all manner of service in 
the field : all their service, wherein they 
made them serve, was with rigour. 

v Gal. v. 15. But if ye bite, and devour 
one another, take heed that ye be not con- 
sumed one of another. Prov. xxiii. 29. 
Who hath woe ? who hath sorrow ? who 
hath contentions 9 who hath babbling ? who 
hath wounds without cause ? 

w Numb. xxxv. 16. And if he smite him 
with an instrument of iron, so that he die, 
he is a murderer : the murderer shall surely 
be put to death. Ver. 17. And if he smite 
him with throwing a stone, wherewith he 
may die, and he die, he is a murderer : the 
murderer shill surely be put to death. 
Ver. 18. Or if he smite him with an hand- 



222 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 137. Which is the seventh commandment? 
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit 
adultery? 

Q. 138. What are the duties required in the seventh com- 
mandment ? 

A. The duties required in the seventh commandment 
are, chastity in body, mind, affections, 2 words, a and be- 
haviour; 1 ' and the preservation of it in ourselves and 
others ; c watchfulness over the eyes and all the senses ; d 
temperance, 6 keeping of chaste company/ modesty in ap- 
parel ; g marriage by those that have not the gift of con- 
tinency, h conjugal love/ and cohabitation ; k diligent labour 

why then should I think upon a 



weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and 
he die, he is a murderer: the murderer 
shall surely be put to death. Ver. 21. 
Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that 
he die : he that smote him shall surely be 
put to death ; for he is a murderer : the 
revenger of blood shall slay the murderer 
when he meeteth him. 

x Exod. xxi. from Ver. 18 to the end. 
[Containing laws for smiters, for an hurt 
by chance, for an ox that goreth, and for 
him that is an occasion of harm.] 

137. y Exod. xx. 14. 

138. z 1 Thess. iv. 4. That every one of 
you should know how to possess his vessel 
in sanctification and honour. Job xxxi. 1. 
/ made a covenant with mine eyes : why then 
should I think upon a maid? 1 Cor. vii. 
34. There is difference also between a 
wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman 
careth for the things of the Lord, that she 
may be holy both in body and in spirit: 
but she that is married careth for the 
things of the world, how she may please 
her husband. 

a Col iv. 6. Let your speech be alway 
with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may 
know how ye ought to answer every man. 

1 Pet. ii. 3. While they behold your 
chaste conversation coupled with fear. 

c 1 Cor. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid 
fornication, let every man have his own wife, 
and let every woman have her own husband. 
Ver. 35. And this I speak for your own 
profit ; not that I may cast a snare upon 
you, but for that which is comely, and 
that ye may attend upon the Lord without 
distraction. Ver. 36. But if any man 
think that he behaveth himself uncomely 
toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of 
her age, and need so require, let him do what 
he will, he sinneth not : let them marry. 

a Job xxxi. 1. / made a covenant with 



mine eyes, 
maid ? 

e Acts xxiv. 24. And after certain days, 
when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, 
which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and 
heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 
Ver. 25. And as he reasoned of righteousness, 
temperance, and judgment to come, Felix 
trembled, 

f Prov. ii. 16. To deliver thee from the 
strange woman, even from the stranger 
which flattereth with her words; Ver. 
17. Which forsaketh the guide of her 
youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her 
God: Ver. 18. For her house inclineth 
unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 
Ver. 19. None that go unto her return 
again, neither take they hold of the paths 
of life. Ver. 20. That thou may est walk 
in the way of good men, and keep the paths 
of the righteous. 

g 1 Tim. ii. 9. In like manner also, that 
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, 
with shamefacedness and sobriety ; not with 
broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly 
array. 

h 1 Cor. vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid 
fornication, let every man have his own 
wife, and let every woman have her own 
husband. Ver. 9. But if they cannot con- 
tain, let them marry: for it is better to 
marry than to burn. 

i Prov. v. 19, Let her be as the loving 
hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts 
satisfy thee at all times: and be thou 
ravished always with her love. Ver. 20. 
And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished 
with a strange woman, and embrace the 
bosom of a stranger ? 

k 1 Pet. iii. 7. Likewise, ye husbands, 
dwell with them according to knowledge, 
giving honour unto the wife, as unto the 
weaker vessel, and as being heirs together 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



2D3 



in our callings ; 1 shunning all occasions of uncleanliness, 
and resisting temptations thereunto.™ 

Q. 139. What are the sins forbidden in the seventh com- 
mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the seventh commandment, be- 
sides the neglect of the duties required, 11 are, adultery, forni- 
cation, rape, incest, p sodomy, and all unnatural lusts ; q all 
unclean imaginations, thoughts, purposes, and affections ; r 
all corrupt or filthy communications, or listening there- 
unto ; s wanton looks,* impudent or light behaviour, im- 



of the grace of life : that your prayers be 
not hindered. 

1 Prov. xxxi. 11. The heart of her 
husband doth safely trust in her, so that 
he shall have no need of spoil. Ver. 27. 
She looketh well to the ways of her house- 
hold, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 
Ver. 28. Her children rise up, and call 
her blessed; her husband also, and he 
praiseth her. 

m Prov. v. 8. Remove thy way far from 
her, and come not nigh the door of her house. 
Gen. xxxix. 8. But he refused ; and said 
unto his master's wife, Behold, my master 
wotteth not what is with me in the house, 
and he hath committed all that he hath 
to my hand : Ver. 9. There is none greater 
in this house than I ; neither hath he kept 
back any thing from me but thee, because 
thou art his wife : how then can I do this 
great wickedness, and sin against God? 
Ver. 10. And it came to pass, as she 
spake to Joseph day by day, that he 
hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to 
be with her. 

139. n Prov. v. 7. Hear me now there- 
fore, ye children, and depart not from 
the words of my mouth. 

Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is honourable 
in all, and the bed undefiled : but whore- 
mongers and adulterers God will judge. 
Gal. v. 19. Now the works of the flesh are 
manifest, which are these: Adultery, for- 
nication, uneleanness, lasciviomness. 

p 2 Sam. xiii. 14. Howbeit he would 
not hearken unto her voice ; but, being 
stronger than she, forced her, and lay 
with her. 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported 
commonly that there is fornication among 
you, and such fornication as is not so much 
as named among the Gentiles, that one 
should have his father's wife. 

q Rom. i. 24. Wherefore God also gave 
them up to uneleanness, through the lusts 
of their own hearts, to dishonour their own 
bodies between themselves. Ver 26. For 



this cause God gave them up unto vile af- 
fections : for even their women did change 
the natural use into that which is against 
nature : Ver. 27. And likewise also the 
men, leaving the natural use of the woman, 
burned in their lust one toward another; 
men with men working that which is un- 
seemly, and receiving in themselves that 
recompence of their error which was meet. 
Lev. xx. 1 5. And if a man lie with a beast, 
he shall surely be put to death ; and ye shall 
slay the beast. Ver. 16. And if a woman 
approach unto any beast, and lie down 
thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the 
beast : they shall surely be put to death ; 
their blood shall be upon them. 

r Matt. v. 28. But I say unto you, That 
whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after 
her, hath committed adultery with her already 
in his heart. Matt. xv. 19. For out of the 
heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adul- 
teries, fornications, thefts, false witness, 
blasphemies. Col. iii. 5. Mortify there- 
fore your members which are upon the 
earth ; fornication, uneleanness, inordinate 
affection, evil concupiscence, and covetous- 
ness, which is idolatry. 

s Eph. v. 3. But fornication, and all un- 
eleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once 
named among you, as becometh saints ; 
Ver. 4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talk- 
ing, nor jesling, which are not convenient ; 
but rather giving of thanks. Prov. vii. 5. 
That they may keep thee from the strange 
woman, from the stranger which fiattereth 
with her words. Ver. 21. With her much 
fair speech she caused him to yield, with the 
flattering of her lips she forced him. Ver, 
22. He goeth after her straightway, as an 
ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to 
the correction of the stocks. 

* Isa. iii. 16. Moreover, the Lord saith, 
Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, 
and walk with stretched forth necks and 
wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they 
go, and making a tinkling with their feet. 



224 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



modest apparel ; v prohibiting of lawful/ and dispensing 
with unlawful marriages ; x allowing, tolerating, keeping 
of stews, and resorting to them ; y entangling vows of 
single life, 2 undue delay of marriage ; a having more 
wives or husbands than one at the same time ; b un- 
just divorce, or desertion ; d idleness, gluttony, drunken- 



2 Pet. ii. 14. Having eyes full of adultery, 
and that cannot cease from sin ; beguiling 
unstable souls, etc. 

^ Prov. vii. 10. And, behold, there met 
him a xooman with the attire of an harlot, 
and subtile of heart. Ver. 13. So she 
caught him, and kissed him, and with an 
impudent face said unto him, etc. 

w 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding to marry, 
and commanding to abstain from meats, 
which God hath created to be received 
with thanksgiving of them that believe 
and know the truth. 

* Lev. xviii. frfom Verse 1 to 21. Mark 
vi. 18. For John had said unto Herod, It 
is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's 
wife. Mai. ii. 11. Judah hath dealt trea- 
cherously, and an abomination is committed 
in Israel and in Jerusalem : for Judah 
hath profaned the holiness of the Lord 
which he loved, and hath married the 
daughter of a strange god. Ver. 12. The 
Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, 
the master and the scholar, out of the 
tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth 
an offering unto the Lord of hosts. 

y 1 Kings xv. 12. And he took away the 
sodomites out of the land, and removed all 
the idols that his fathers had made. 2 
Kings xxiii. 7. And he brake down the 
houses of the sodomites, that were by the 
house of the Lord, where the women wove 
hangings for the grove. Deut. xxiii. 17. 
There shall be no whore of the daughters of 
Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel. 
Ver. 18. Thou shalt not bring the hire of a 
whore, or the price of a dog, into the house 
of the Lord thy God for any vow ; for 
even both these are abomination unto the 
Lord thy God. Lev. xix. 29. Do not pros- 
titute thy daughter to cause her to be a 
whore ; lest the land fall to whoredom, 
and the land become full of wickedness. 
Jer. v. 7. How shall 1 pardon thee for this ? 
thy children have forsaken me, and sworn 
by them that are no gods : when I had 
fed them to the full, they then committed 
adultery, and assembled themselves by troops 
in the harlots' houses. Prov. vii. 24. 
Hearken unto me now therefore, ye 
children, and attend to the words of my 



mouth : Ver. 25. Let not thine heart de- 
cline to her ways, go not astray in her paths : 
Ver. 26. For she hath cast down many 
wounded; yea, many strong men have 
been slain by her. Ver. 27. Her house 
is the way to hell, going down to the 
chambers of death. 

2 Matt. xix. 10. His disciples say unto 
him, If the case of the man be so with his 
wife, it is not good to marry. Ver. 1L 
But he said unto them, All men cannot re- 
ceive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 

a 1 Cor. vii. 7. For I would that all 
men were even as I myself : but every 
man hath his proper gift of God, one after 
this manner, and another after that. Ver. 
8. I say therefore to the unmarried and 
widows, It is good for them if they abide 
even as I. Ver. 9. But if they cannot 
contain, let them marry : for it is better to 
marry than to burn. Gen. xxxviii. 26. 
And Judah acknowledged them, and said, 
Slie hath been more righteous than I; because 
that 1 gave her not to Shelah my son : and 
he knew her again no more. 

b Mai. ii. 14. Yet ye say, Wherefore ? 
Because the Lord hath been witness between 
thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom 
thou hast dealt treacherously : yet is she thy 
companion, and the wife of thy covenant. 
Ver. 15. And did not he make one ? Yet 
had he the residue of the Spirit. And 
wherefore one ? That he might seek a 
godly seed. Therefore take heed to your 
spirit, and let none deal treacherously against 
the wife of his youth. Matt. xix. 5. And 
said, For this cause shall a man leave 
father and mother, and shall cleave to his 
wife : and they twain shall be one flesh. 

c Mai. ii. 16. For the Lord, the God of 
Israel, saith that he hateth putting away : 
for one covereth violence with his garment, 
saith the Lord of hosts ; therefore take 
heed to your spirit, that ye deal not trea- 
cherously. Matt. v. 32. But I say unto 
you, That ivhosoever shall put away his wife, 
saving for the cause of fornication, causeth 
her to commit adultery: and whosoever 
shall marry her that is divorced commit- 
teth adultery. 

d 1 Cor. vii. 12. But to the rest speak 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



225 



ness, e unchaste company ; f lascivious songs, books, pictures, 
dancings, stage plays ; g and all other provocations to, or 
acts of uncleanness, either in ourselves or others. h 
Q. 140. Which is the eighth commandment? 
A, The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal} 
Q. 141. What are the duties required in the eighth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The duties required in the eighth commandment are, 
truth, faithfulness, and justice in contracts and commerce 
between man and man ; k rendering to every one his 



I, not the Lord ; If any brother hath a 
wife that believeth not, and she be pleased 
to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 
Yer. 13. And the woman which hath an 
husband that believeth not, and if he be 
pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 

e Ezek. xvi. 49. Behold, this was the ini- 
quity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of 
bread, and abundance of idleness was in her 
and in her daughters, neither did she 
strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 
Prov. xxiii. 30. They that tarry long at the 
wine ; they that go to seek mixed wine. 
Ver. 31. Look not thou upon the wine when 
it is red, when it giveth his colour in the 
cup, when it moveth itself aright : Ver. 
32. At the last it biteth like a serpent, 
and stingeth like an adder. Ver. 33. 
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and 
thine heart shall utter perverse things. 

f Gen. xxxix. 10. And it came to pass, 
as she spake to Joseph day by day, that 
he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to 
be with her. Prov. v. 8. Remove thy way 
far from her, and come not nigh the door of 
her house. 

g Eph. v. 4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish 
talking, nor jesting, which are not conve- 
nient ; but rather giving of thanks. Ezek. 
xxiii, 14. And that she increased her whore- 
doms : for when she saw men pourtrayed 
upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans 
pourtrayed with vermilion, Ver 15. Gird- 
ed with girdles upon their loins, exceeding 
in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them 
princes to look to, after the manner of the 
Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their 
nativity : Ver. 16. And as soon as she 
saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, 
and sent messengers unto them into Chal- 
dea. Isa. xxiii. 15. And it shall come to 
pass in that day, that Tyre shall be for- 
gotten seventy years, according to the 
days of one king : after the end of seventy 
years shall Tyre sing as an harlot. Ver. 
16. Take an harp, go about the city, thou 



harlot that hast been forgotten; make 
sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou 
may est be remembered. Ver. 17. And it 
shall come to pass, after the end of seventy 
years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and 
she shall turn to her hire, and shall com- 
mit fornication with all the kingdoms of 
the world upon the face of the earth. 
Isa. iii. 16. Moreover, the Lord saith, Be- 
cause the daughters of Zion are haughty, 
and walk with stretched forth necks, and 
wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they 
go, and making a tinkling with their feet: — 
Mark vi. 22. And when the daughter of 
the said Herodias came in, and danced, and 
pleased Herod, and them that sat with him, 
the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me 
whatsoever thou wilt, and 1 will give it 
thee. Bom. xiii. 13. Let us walk honestly, 
as in the day ; not in rioting and drunken- 
ness, not in chambering and wantonness, not 
in strife and envying. 1 Pet. iv. 3. For 
the time past of our life may suffice us to 
have wrought the will of the Gentiles, 
when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, ex- 
cess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and 
abominable idolatries. 

h 2 Kings ix. 30. And when Jehu 
was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it ; 
and she painted her face, and tired her head, 
and looked out at a window. Compared 
with Jer. iv. 30. And when thou art 
spoiled, what wilt thou do ? Though thou 
clothest thyself with crimson, though 
thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, 
though thou rentest thy face with painting, 
in vain shalt thou make thyself fair ; thy 
lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy 
life. And with Ezek. xxiii. 40. And fur- 
thermore, that ye have sent for men to 
come from far, unto whom a messenger 
was sent ; and, lo, they came : for whom 
thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thine eyes, 
and deckedst thyself with ornaments. 

140. * Exod. xx. 15. 

141. k Ps. xv. 2. He that walketh up- 



22G 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



due ; l restitution of goods unlawfully detained from the right 
owners thereof ; m giving and lending freely, according to 
our abilities, and the necessities of others ; n moderation of 
our judgments, wills, and affections concerning worldly- 
goods ; a provident care and study to get, p keep, use, and 
dispose these things which are necessary- and convenient for 
the sustentation of our nature, and suitable to our condition ; q 



rightly, and worketh righteousness, and speak- 
eth the truth in his heart. Ver. 4. He 
that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth 
not. Zech. vii. 4. Then came the word of 
the Lord of hosts unto me, saying, Ver. 
10. Oppress not the widow, nor the father- 
less, the stranger, nor the poor ; and let 
none of you imagine evil against his brother 
in your heart. Zech. viii. 16. These are 
the things that ye shall do, Speak ye 
every man the truth to his neighbour ; exe- 
cute the judgment of truth and peace in your 
gates: Ver. 17. And let none of you im- 
agine evil in your hearts against his neigh- 
bour ; and love no false oath : for all these 
are things that I hate, saith the Lord. 

i Kom. xiii. 7. Render therefore to all 
their dues : tribute to whom tribute is due; 
custom to whom custom ; fear to whom 
fear ; honour to whom honour. 

m Lev. vi. 2. If a soul sin, and commit 
a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto 
his neighbour in that which was delivered 
him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a 
thing taken away by violence, or hath de- 
ceived his neighbour; Ver. 3. Or have 
found that which was lost, and lieth con- 
cerning it, and sweareth falsely ; in any 
of all these that a man doeth, sinning 
therein : Ver. 4. Then it shall be, because 
he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall 
restore that which he took violently away, or 
the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or 
that which was delivered him to keep, or the 
lost thing which he found, Ver. 5. Or all 
that about which he hath sworn falsely ; he 
shall even restore it in the principal, and 
shall add the fifth part more thereto, and 
give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, 
in the day of his trespass-offering. Com- 
pared with Luke xix. 8. And Zaccheus 
stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, 
the half of my goods I give to the poor ; 
and if I have taken any thing from any man 
by false accusation, I restore him four-fold. 

n Luke vi. 30. Give to every man that 
asketh of thee; and of him that taketh 
away thy goods, ask them not again. 
Ver. 38. Give.-, and it shall be given unto 
you, good measure, pressed down, and 



shaken together, and running over, shall 
men give into your bosom. For with the 
same measure that ye mete withal, it shall 
be measured to you again. 1 John iii. 
17. But whoso hath this world's good, and 
seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up 
his bowels of compassion from him, how 
dwelleth the love of God in him ? Eph. iv. 
28. Let him that stole steal no more : but 
rather let him labour, working with his 
hands the thing which is good, that he 
may have to give to him that needeth. Gal. 
vi. 10. As we have therefore opportunity, 
let us do good unto all men, especially unto 
them who are of the household of faith. 

1 Tim. vi. 6. But godliness with con- 
tentment is great gain. Ver. 7. For we 
brought nothing into this world, and it is 
certain we can carry nothing out. Ver. 
8. And having food and raiment, let us be 
therewith content. Ver. 9. But they that 
will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, 
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, 
which drown men in destruction and per- 
dition. Gal. vi. 14. But God forbid that 
I should glory, save in the cross of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is 
crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 

p 1 Tim. v. 8. But if any provide not for 
his own, and specially for those of his own 
house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse 
than an infidel. 

<i Prov. xxvii. from Verse 23 to the 
end. Be thou diligent to know the state of 
thy flocks, and look well to thy herds i Ver. 
24. For riches are not for ever ; — Eccl. ii. 
24. There is nothing better for a man, than 
that he should eat and drink, and that he 
should make his soul enjoy good in his la- 
bour. This also I saw, that it was from 
the hand of God. Eccl. iii. 12. / know 
that there is no good in them, but for a man 
to rejoice, and to do good in his life. Ver. 
13. And also that every man should eat and 
drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, 
it is the gift of God. 1 Tim. vi. 17. 
Charge them that are rich in this world, 
that they be not high-minded, nor trust 
in uncertain riches, but in the living God, 
who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



227 



a lawful calling/ and diligence in it ; s frugality ; fc avoiding 
unnecessary law-suits/ and suretiship, or other like engage- 
ments ; w and an endeavour, by all just and lawful means, to 
procure, preserve, and further the wealth and outward estate 
of others, as well as our own. x 

Q. 142. What are the sins forbidden in the eighth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the eighth commandment, 
besides the neglect of the duties required/ are, theft/ 

Ver. 18. That they do good, that they be rich shalt in any case bring them again unto thy 

in good works, ready to distribute, willing to brother. Ver. 2. And if thy brother be 

communicate. Isa. xxxviii. 1. In those days not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him 

was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine 

the prophet, the son of Amoz, came unto own house, and it shall be with thee until 

him, and said untohim, Thus saith the Lord, thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt 

Set thine house in order ; for thou shalt die, restore it to him again. Ver. 3. In like 

and not live. Matt. xi. 8. Behold, they manner shalt thou do with his ass, and so 

that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. shalt thou do with his raiment ; and with 

r 1 Cor. vii. 20. Let every man abide all lost thing of thy brother's, which he 

in the same calling wherein he was called, hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou 

Gen. ii, 15. And the Lord God took the do likewise : thou mayest not hide thyself. 

man, and put him into the garden of Eden, Ver. 4. Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass 

to dress it, and to keep it. Gen iii. 19. In or his ox fall down by the way, and hide 

the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, thyself from them ; thou shalt surely help 

till thou return unto the ground, etc. him to lift them up again. Exod. xxiii. 4. 

s Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole steal If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass 

no more : but rather let him labour, work- going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back 

ing with his hands the thing which is good, to him again. Ver. 5. If thou see the 

that he may have to give to him that ass of him that hateth thee lying under his 

needeth. Prov. x. 4. He becometh poor burden, and wouidest forbear to help him ; 

that dealeth with a slack hand : but the thou shalt surely help with him. Gen. xlvii. 

hand of the diligent maketh rich. 14. And Joseph gathered up all the money 

1 John vi. 12. When they were filled, that was found in the land of Egypt, and 

he said unto his disciples, Gather up the in the land of Canaan, for the corn which 

fragments that remain, that nothing be they bought : and Joseph brought the money 

lost. Prov. xxi. 20. There is treasure to into Pharaoh'' s house. Ver, 20. And Joseph 

be desired and oil in the dwelling of the bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh ; 

wise : but a foolish man spendeth it up. for the Egyptians sold every man his field, 

v 1 Cor. vi. from Verse 1 to 9. Dare any because the famine prevailed over them : 

of you, having a matter against another, so the land became Pharaoh's. Phil. ii. 4. 

go to law before the unjust, and not before Look not every man on his own things, but 

the saints ? etc. every man also on the things of others. Matt. 

w Prov. vi. from Verse 1 to 6. My son, xxii. 39. And the second is like unto it, 

if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 
stricken thy hand with a stranger, Ver. 142. j James ii. 15. If a brother or 

2. Thou art snared with the words of thy sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 

mouth, etc. Prov. xi. 15. He that is surety Ver. 16. And one of you say unto them, 

for a stranger shall smart for it; and he Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; 

that hateth suretiship is sure. notwithstanding ye give them not those things 

x Lev. xxv. 35. And if thy brother be which are needful to the body, what doth it 

waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, profit ? 1 John iii. 17. But whoso hath this 

then thou shalt relieve him ; yea, though he world's good, and seeth his brother have need, 

be a stranger, or a sojourner : that he and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from 

may live with thee. Deut. xxii. 1. Thou him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ? 
shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go z Eph iv. 28. Let him that stole steal no 

astray, and hide thyself from them : thou more : but rather, etc. 



228 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



robbery/ man-stealing, b and receiving any thing that is 
stolen; fraudulent dealing/ false weights and measures/ 
removing land-marks/ injustice and unfaithfulness in con- 
tracts between man and man/ or in matters of trust ; h 
oppression/ extortion/ usury, 1 bribery,™ 1 vexatious law- 
suits/ unjust inclosures and depopulations ; ingrossing 
commodities to enhance the price ; p unlawful callings/ and 

a Ps. lxii. 10. Trust not in oppression, 

and become not vain in robbery. 

t> 1 Tim. i. 10. (The law was made) for 
whoremoDgers, for them that defile them- 
selves with mankind, for men-stealers, for 
liars, for perjured persons, and if there 
be any other thing that is contrary to 
sound doctrine. 

c Prov. xxix. 24. Whoso is partner with 
a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth 
cursing, and bewrayeth it not. Ps. L 18. 
When thou sawest a thief then thou con- 
sentedst with him, etc. 

d 1 Thess. iv. 6. That no man go beyond 
and defraud his brother in any matter: 
because that the Lord is the avenger of all 
such, as we also have forewarned you, and 
testified. 

e Prov. xi. 1. A false balance is abomi- 
nation to the Lord: but a just weight is 
his delight. Prov. xx. 10. Divers weights, 
and divers measures, both of them are alike 
abomination to the Lord. 

f Deut. xix. 14. Thou shalt not remove 
thy neighbour s land-mark, which they of 
old time have set in thine inheritance. — 
Prov. xxiii. 10. Remove not the old land- 
mark ; and enter not into the fields of the 
fatherless. 

g Amos viii. 5. Saying, When will the 
new-moon be gone, that we may sell corn ? 
and the sabbath, that we may set forth 
wheat, making the ephah small, and the 
shekel great, and falsifying the balances by 
deceit? Ps. xxxvii. 21. The wicked bor- 
roweth, and payeth not again, etc. 

h Luke xvi. 10. He that is faithful in 
that which is least, is faithful also in 
much : and he that is unjust in the least, 
is unjust also in much. Ver. 11. If there- 
fore ye have not been faithful in the un- 
righteous mammon who will commit to your 
trust the true riches ? Ver. 1 2. And if ye 
have not been faithful in that which is 
another man's, who shall give you that 
which is your own ? 

> Ezek. xxii. 29. The people of the 
land have used oppression, and exercised 
robbery, and have vexed the poor and 
needy ; yea, they have oppressed the stranger 



wrongfully. Lev. xxv. 17. Ye shall not 
therefore oppress one another; but thou 
shalt fear thy God: for I am the Lord 
your God. 

k Matt, xxiii. 25. Woe unto you, scribes 
and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye make 
clean the outside of the cup and of the 
platter, but within they are full of extortion 
and excess. Ezek. xxii. 12. In thee have 
they taken gifts to shed blood ; thou hast 
taken usury and increase, and thou hast 
greedily gained of thy neighbours by ex- 
tortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the 
Lord God. 

J Ps. xv. 5. He that putteth not out his 
money to usury, nor taketh reward against 
the innocent, etc. 

m Job xv. 34. For the congregation of 
hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall 
consume the tabernacles of bribery. 

n 1 Cor. vi. 6. But brother goeth to law 
with brother, and that before the unbe- 
lievers. Ver. 7. Now therefore there is 
utterly a fault among you, because ye go 
to law one with another ; why do ye not 
rather take wrong ? why do ye not rather 
suffer yourselves to be defrauded ? Ver. 
8. Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that 
your brethren. Prov. iii. 29. Devise not 
evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth 
securely by thee. Ver. 30. Strive not with 
a man without cause, if he have done thee 
no harm. 

Isa. v. 8. Woe unto them that join house 
to house, that lay field to field, till there be 
no place, that they may be placed alone 
in the midst of the earth ! Micah ii. 2. 
And they covet fields, and take them by vio- 
lence ; and houses, and take them away : 
so they oppress a man and his house, even 
a man and his heritage. 

p Prov. xi. 26. He that withholdeth corn, 
the people shall curse him: but blessing 
shall be upon the head of him that selleth 
it. 

<i Acts xix. 19. Many of them also which 
used curious arts brought their books to- 
gether, and burned them before all men : 
and they counted the price of them, and 
found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



229 



all other unjust or sinful ways of taking or withholding 
from our neighbour what belongs to him, or of enriching 
ourselves ; r covetousness ; 3 inordinate prizing and af- 
fecting worldly goods ; fc distrustful and distracting cares 
and studies in getting, keeping, and using them ; v envying 
at the prosperity of others ; w as likewise idleness/ prodi- 
gality, wasteful gaming; and all other ways whereby we 
do unduly prejudice our own outward estate/ and defraud- 
ing ourselves of the due use and comfort of that estate 
which God hath given us. z 



Ver. 24. For a certain man, named Deme- 
trius, a silversmith, which made silver 
shrines for Diana, brought no small gain 
unto the craftsmen ; Ver. 25. Whom he 
called together with the workmen of like 
occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that 
by this craft we have our wealth. 

r Job. xx. 19. Because he hath oppressed 
and hath forsaken the poor ; because he hath 
violently taken away an house which he 
builded not. James v. 4. Behold, the hire 
of the labourers which have reaped down your 
fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, 
crieth : and the cries of them which have 
reaped are entered into the ears of the 
Lord of sabaoth. Prov. xxi. 6. The get- 
ting of treasures by a lying tongue is a 
vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek 
death. 

s Luke xii. 15. And he said unto them, 
Take heed, and beware of covetousness : for 
a man's life consisteth not in the abun- 
dance of the things which he possesseth. 

* 1 Tim. vi. 5. Perverse disputings of 
men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the 
truth, supposing that gain is godliness: 
from such withdraw thyself Col. iii. 2. 
Set your affection on thiDgs above, not on 
things on the earth. Prov. xxiii. 5. Wilt 
thou set thine eyes upon that which is not ? 
for riches certainly make themselves wings ; 
they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 

Ps. lxii. 10 If riches increase, set not your 

heart upon them. 

v Matt. vi. 25. Therefore I say unto 
you, Take no thought for your life, what ye 
shall eat, or what ye shall drink ; nor yet 
for your body, what ye shall put on. Is 
not the life more than meat, and the body 
than raiment ? Ver. 31. Therefore take 
no thought, saying, What shall we eat? — 
Ver. 34. Take therefore no thought for the 
morrow : for the morrow shall take thought 
for the things of itself. Sufficient unto 
the day is the evil thereof. EccL v. 12. 
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, 



whether he eat little or much : but the 

abundance of the rich will not suffer him to 
sleep. 

w Ps. lxxiii. 3. For / was envious at the 
foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the 
wicked. Ps. xxxvii. 1. Fret not thyself 
because of evil-doers, neither be thou envi- 
ous against the workers of iniquity. Ver. 
7. Eest in the Lord, and wait patiently 
for him : fret not thyself because of him 
who prospereth in his way, because of the 
man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 

x 2 Thess. iii. 11. For we hear that 
there are some which walk among you dis- 
orderly, working not at all, but are busy- 
bodies. Prov. xviii. 9. He also that is 
slothful in his work is brother to him that 
is a great waster. 

y Prov. xxi. 17. He that loveth pleasure 
shall be a poor man ; he that loveth wine 
and oil shall not be rich. Prov. xxiii. 20. 
Be not among wine-bibbers ; among riotous 
eaters of flesh: Ver. 21. For the drunkard 
and the glutton shall come to poverty ; and 
drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. 
Prov. xxviii. 19. He that tilleth his land 
shall have plenty of bread : but he thatfol- 
loweth after vain persons shall have poverty 



z Eccl. iv. 8. There is one alone, and 
there is not a second ; yea, he hath neither 
child nor brother : yet is there no end of 
all his labour ; neither is his eye satisfied 
with riches ; neither saith he, For whom do 
I labour, and bereave my soul of good? 
This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail. 
Eccl. vi. 2. A man to whom God hath given 
riches, wealth, and honour, so that he 
wanteth nothing for his soul of all that 
he desireth, yet God giveth him not power 
to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: 
this is vanity, and it is an evil disease. 1 
Tim. v. 8. But if any provide not for his 
own, and specially for those of his own house, 
he hath denied the faith, and is worse than 
an infidel. 



230 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 143. Which is the ninth commandment? 

A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false 
witness against thy neighbour* 

Q. 144. What are the duties required in the ninth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The duties required in the ninth commandment 
are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man 
and man, and the good name of our neighbour, as well 
as our own ; c appearing and standing for the truth ; d 
and from the heart, 6 sincerely/ freely/ clearly, h and 
fully/ speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters 
of judgment and justice/ and in all other things what- 
soever ; 1 a charitable esteem of our neighbours ; m loving, 
desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; n sorrowing 



143. a Exod. xx. 16. 

144. b Zech. viii. 16. These are the 
things that ye shall do, Speak ye every 
man the truth to his neighbour: execute 
the judgment of truth and peace in your 
gates. 

c 3 John, Ver. 12. Demetrius hath good 
report of all men, and of the truth itself : 
yea, and we also bear record ; and ye know 
that our record is true. 

d Prov. xxxi. 8. Open thy mouth for the 
dumb in the cause of all such as are ap- 
pointed to destruction. Ver. 9. Open thy 
mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause 
of the poor and needy. 

e Ps. xv. 2. He that walketh uprightly, 
and worketh righteousness, and speaketh 
the truth in his heart. 

f 2 Chron. xix. 9. And he charged them, 
saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the 
Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. 

s 1 Sam. xix. 4. And Jonathan spake 
good of David unto Saul his father, and 
said unto him, Let not the king sin against 
his servant, against David ; because he 
hath not sinned against thee, and because 
his works have been to thee- ward very good: 
Ver. 5. For he did put his life in his hand, 
and slew the Philistine, and the Lord 
wrought a great salvation for all Israel : 
thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore 
then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, 
to slay David without a cause ? 

& Josh. vii. 19. And Joshua said unto 
Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to 
the Lord God of Israel, and make confes- 
sion unto him; and tell me now what thou 
hast done; hide it not from me. 

1 2 Sam. xiv. 18. Then the king answered 
and said unto the woman, Hide not from 



me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask 
thee. And the woman said, Let my lord 
the king now speak. Ver. 19. And the 
king said, Is not the hand of Joab with 
thee in all this ? And the woman answered 
and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the 
king, none can turn to the right hand or to 
the left from ought that my lord the king hath 
spoken : for thy servant Joab, he bade me, 
and he put all these words in the mouth of 
thine handmaid: Ver. 20. To fetch about 
this form of speech hath thy servant Joab 
done this thing : and my lord is wise, eto. 

Lev. xix. 15. Ye shall do no unright- 
eousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect 
the person of the poor, nor honour the 
person of the mighty: but in righteousness 
shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Prov. xiv. 
5. A faithful witness will not lie: but a false 
witness will utter lies. Ver. 25. A true 
witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful 
witness speaketh lies. 

1 2 Cor. i. 17. When I therefore was 
thus minded, did 1 use lightness? or the 
things that I purpose, do I purpose accord- 
ing to the flesh, that with me there should 
be yea, yea, and nay, nay? Ver. 18. But 
as God is true, our word toward you was 
not yea and nay. Eph. iv. 25. Wherefore, 
putting away lying, speak every man truth 
with his neighbour: for we are members 
one of another. 

m Heb. vi. 9. But, beloved, we are per- 
suaded better things of you, and things that 
accompany salvation, though we thus 
speak. 1 Cor. xiii. 7. (Charity) beareth 
all things, believeth all things, hopeth all 
things, endureth all things. 

n Bom. i. 8. First, / thank my God 
through Jesus Christ for you all, that your 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



231 



for/ and covering of their infirmities ; p freely acknowledging 
of their gifts and graces/ defending their innocency; r a 
ready receiving of a good report/ and unwillingness to 
admit of an evil report/ concerning them; discouraging 
tale-bearers/ flatterers/ and slanderers ; x love and care 
of our own good name, and defending it when need 
requireth; 7 keeping of lawful promises; 2 studying and 
practising of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, 
and of good report. a 

Q. 145. What are the sins forbidden in the ninth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, 
all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neigh- 



faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 
2 John, Ver. 4. / rejoiced greatly that I 
found of thy children walking in truth, as we 
have received a commandment from the 
Father. 3 John, Ver. 3. For i" rejoiced 
greatly when the brethren came and testified 
of the truth that is in thee, even as thou 
walkest in the truth. Ver. 4. I have no 
greater joy than to hear that my children 
walk in truth. 

o 2 Cor. ii. 4. For out of much affliction 
and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with 
many tears ; not that ye should be grieved, 
but that ye might know the love which I 
have more abundantly unto you. 2 Cor. 
xii. 21. And lest, when I come again, my 
God will humble me among you, and that 

1 shall bewail many which have sinned 
already, and have not repented of the 
uncleanness, and fornication, and las- 
civiousness which they have committed. 

p Prov. xvii. 9. He that covereth a trans- 
gression seeketh love: but he that repeateth 
a matter, separateth very friends. 1 Pet. 
iv. 8. And, above all things, have fervent 
charity among yourselves : for charity shall 
cover the multitude of sins. 

1 1 Cor. i. 4. I thank my God always on 
your behalf, for the grace of God which is 
given you by Jesus Christ; Ver. 5. That in 
every thing ye are enriched by him, in all 
utterance, and in all knowledge. Ver. 7. 
So that ye come behind in no gift ; waiting 
for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

2 Tim. i. 4. Greatly desiring to see thee, 
being mindful of thy tears, that I may be 
filled with joy; Ver. 5. When 1 call to 
remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in 
thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother 
Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am 
persuaded that in thee also. 



r 1 Sam. xxii. 14. Then Ahimelech 
answered the king, and said, And who is 
so faithful among all thy servants as David, 
which is the king's son-in-law, and goeth 
at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine 
house ? 

s 1 Cor. xiii. 6. {Charity) rejoiceth not 
in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 
Ver. 7. Beareth all things, believeth all 
things, hopeth all things, endureth all 
things. 

* Ps. xv. 3. He that backbiteth not with 
his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, 
nor taketh up a reproach against his neigh- 
bour. 

* Prov. xxv. 23. The north wind driveth 
away rain; so doth an angry countenance a 
backbiting tongue. 

w Prov. xxvi. 24. He that hateth dis- 
sembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit 
within him: Ver. 25. When he speaketh 
fair, believe him not : for there are seven 
abominations in his heart. 

x Ps. ci. 5. Whoso privily slander eth his 
neighbour, him will I cut off, etc. 

y Prov. xxii. 1. A good name is rather to 
be chosen than great riches, and loving favour 
rather than silver and gold. John viii. 49. 
Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I 
honour my Father, and ye do dishon- 
our me. 

z Ps. xv. 4. — He that swear eth to his 
own hurt, and changeth not. 

» Phil. iv. 8. Finally, brethren, whatso- 
ever things are true, whatsoever things 
are honest, whatsoever things are just, 
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever 
things are lovely, whatsoever things are of 
good report; if there be any virtue, and 
if there be any praise, think on these 



232 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



bours, as well as our own/ especially in public judicature ; c 
giving false evidence/ suborning false witnesses, 6 wittingly 
appearing and pleading for an evil cause, out-facing and 
over-bearing the truth ; f passing unjust sentence/ calling 
evil good, and good evil ; rewarding the wicked according to 
the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to 
the work of the wicked/ forgery, 1 concealing the truth, 



145. b 1 Sam. xvii. 28. And Eliab his 
eldest brother heard when he spake unto 
the men : and Eliab 's anger was kindled 
against David, and he said, Why earnest 
thou down hither ? and with whom hast 
thou left those few sheep in the wilder- 
ness ? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness 
of thine heart; for thou art come down 
that thou mightest see the battle. 2. Sam. 
xvi. 3. And the king said, And where is 
thy master's son ? And Ziba said unto the 
king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: 
for he said, To-day shall the house of Israel 
restore me the kingdom of my father. 2 Sam. 
i. 9. He said unto me again, Stand, I pray 
thee, upon me, and slay me ; for anguish is 
come upon me, because my life is yet whole 
in me. Ver. 10. So 1 stood upon him, and 
slew him, because I was sure that he could 
not live after that he was fallen : and I 
took the crown that was upon his head, 
and the bracelet that was on his arm, and 
have brought them hither unto my lord. 
Ver. 15. And David called one of the 
young men, and said, Go near, and fall 
upon him. And he smote him that he died. 
Yer. 16. And David said unto him, Thy 
blood be upon thy head: for thy mouth 
hath testified against thee, saying, I have 
slain the Lord's anointed. 

c Lev. xix. 15. Ye shall do no unright- 
eousness in judgment; thou shalt not re- 
spect the person of the poor, nor honour 
the person of the mighty : but in righteous- 
ness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Hab. 
i. 4. Therefore the laio is slacked, and 
judgment doth never go forth : for the wicked 
doth compass about the righteous ; there- 
fore wrong judgment proceedeth. 

d Prov. xix. 5. A false icitness shall not 
be unpunished; and he that speaketh lies 
shall not escape. Prov. vi. 16. These six 
things doth the Lord hate ; yea, seven are 
an abomination unto him: Ver. 19. A 
false icitness that speaketh lies, and he that 
soweth discord among brethren. 

e Acts vi. 13. And set up false witnesses, 
which said, This man ceaseth not to speak 
blasphemous words against this holy place, 
and the law. 



f Jer. ix. 3. And they bend their tongues 
like their bow for lies; but they are not 
valiant for the truth upon the earth : for 
they proceed from evil to evil, and they 
know not me, saith the Lord. Ver. 5. 
And they will deceive every one his neigh- 
bour, and icill not speak the truth: they 
have taught their tongue to speak lies, and 
weary themselves to commit iniquity. 
Acts xxiv. 2. And when he was called 
forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, — 
Ver. 5. For we have found this man a pesti- 
lent fellow, and a mover of sedition among 
all the Jews throughout the world, and a 
ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 
Ps. xii. 3. The Lord shall cut off all flat- 
tering lips, and the tongue that speaketh 
proud things; Ver. 4. Who have said, With 
our tongue icill we prevail ; our lips are our 
own : who is lord over us ? Ps. lii. 1 . 
Why boast est thou thyself in mischief, 
mighty man ? the goodness of God endu- 
reth continually. Ver. 2. Thy tongue 
deviseth mischiefs ; like a sharp razor, 
working deceitfully. Ver. 3. Thou lovest 
evil more than good, and lying rather than 
to speak righteousness. Selah. Ver. 4. 
Thou lovest all-devouring words, thou 
deceitful tongue. 

s Prov. xvii. 15. He that justifieth the 
wicked, and he that condemneth the just, 
even they both are abomination to the Lord. 
1 Kings xxi. from Verse 9 to 14. And she 
(Jezebel) wrote in the letters, saying, 
Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high 
among the people ; Ver. 10. And set two 
men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear 
witness against him, saying, Thou didst 
blaspheme God and the king : and then 
carry him out, and stone him, that he may 
die. Ver. 11. And the men of his city, 
even the elders and the nobles who were the 
inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had 
sent unto them. Ver. 13. And (they) 
stoned him with stones, that he died. 

h Isa. v. 23. Which justify the wicked for 
reward, and take away the righteousness of 
the righteous from him ! 

1 Ps. cxix. 69. The proud have forged a 
lie against me : but I will keep thy precepts 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



233 



undue silence in a just cause, k and holding our peace when 
iniquity calleth for either a reproof from ourselves, 1 or 
complaint to others ; m speaking the truth unseasonably/ 
or maliciously to a wrong end/ or perverting it to a 
wrong meaning/ or in doubtful or equivocal expres- 
sions, to the prejudice of truth or justice ; q speaking 
untruth/ lying/ slandering/ backbiting/ detracting/ tale- 



with my whole heart. Luke xix. 8. And 
Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord, 
Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give 
to the poor ; and if I have taken anything 
from any man by false accusation, I restore 
him four-fold. Luke xvi. 5. So he called 
every one of his lord's debtors unto him, 
and said unto the first, How much owest 
thou unto my lord ? Ver. 6. And he said, 
An hundred measures of oil. And he said 
unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down 
quickly, and write fifty. Ver. 7. Then 
said he to another, And how much owest 
thou ? etc. 

k Lev. v. 1. And if a soul sin, and hear 
the voice of swearing, and is a witness, 
whether he hath seen or known of it ; if 
he do not utter it, then he shall bear his 
iniquity. Deut. xiii. 8. Thou shalt not 
consent unto him, nor hearken unto him ; 
neither shall thine eye pity him, neither 
shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal 
him. Acts v. 3. But Peter said, Ananias, 
why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to 
the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of 
the price of the land? Ver. 8. And Peter 
answered unto her, Tell me whether ye 
sold the land for so much ? And she said, 
Yea, for so much. Ver. 9. Then Peter 
said unto her, How is it that ye have 
agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the 
Lord ? 2 Tim. iv. 6. At my first answer 
no man stood with me, but all men forsook 
me : I pray God that it may not be laid to 
their charge. 

1 1 Kings i. 6. And his father had not 
displeased him at any time in saying, Why 
hast thou done so? Lev. xix. 17. Thou 
shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart : 
thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, 
and not suffer sin upon him. 

m Isa. lix. 4. None calleth for justice, 
nor any pleadeth for truth : they trust in 
vanity, etc. 

n Prov. xxix. 11. A fool uttereth all his 
mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till 
afterwards. 

1 Sam. xxii. 9. Then answered Doeg 
the Edomite, which was set over the ser- 
vants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of 



Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son 
of Ahitub. Ver. 10. And he enquired of 
the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, 
and gave him the sword of Goliath the 
Philistine. Compared with Ps. Hi. A psalm 
of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and 
told Saul, — Ver. 1. Why boastest thou 
thyself in mischief, mighty man ? etc., to 
verse 5. 

p Ps. lvi. 5. Every day they wrest my 
words : all their thoughts are against me 
for evil. John ii. 19. Jesus answered and 
said unto them, Destroy this temple, and 
in three days I will raise it up. Compared 
with Matt. xxvi. 60. At the last came 
two false witnesses, Ver. 61. And said, 
This fellow said, I am able to destroy the 
temple of God, and to build it in three days. 

i Gen. iii. 5. For God doth know, that 
in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes 
shall be opened ; and ye shall be as gods, 
knowing good and evil. Gen. xxvi. 7. And 
the men of the place asked him of his wife ; 
and he said, She is my sister : for he feared 
to say, She is my wife. Ver. 9. And 
Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, 
of a surety she is thy wife ; and how saidst 
thou, She is my sister ? 

r Isa. lix. 13. In transgressing and lying 
against the Lord, and departing away from 
our God, speaking oppression and revolt, 
conceiving and uttering from the heart words 
of falsehood. 

8 Lev. xix. 11. Ye shall not steal, neither 
deal falsely, neither lie one to another. Col. 
iii. 9. Lie not one to another, seeing that 
ye have put off the old man with his deeds. 

t Ps. L 20. Thou sittest and speakest 
against thy brother ; thou slanderest thine 
own mother's son. 

v Ps. xv. 3. He that backbiteth not with 
his tongue, etc. 

w James iv. 11. Speak not evil one of 
another, brethren. He that speaketh evil 
of his brother, and judgeth his brother, 
speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the 
law : but if thou judge the law, thou art 
not a doer of the law, but a judge. Jer. 
xxxviii. 4. Therefore the princes said unto 
the king, We beseech thee, let this man 



234 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



bearing/ whispering/ scoffing/ reviling/ rash/ harsh/ and 
partial censuring ; d misconstructing intentions, words, and 
actions; 6 flattering/ vain-glorious boasting/ thinking or 
speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others ; h 



be put to death ; for thus he weakeneth 
the hands of the men of war that remain 
in this city, and the hands of all the people, 
in speaking such words unto them : for 
this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, 
"but the hurt. 

s Lev. xix. 16. Thou shalt not go up and 
down as a tale-bearer among thy people ; 
neither shalt thou stand against the blood 
of thy neighbour : I am the Lord. 

J Rom. i. 29. Being filled with all 
unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, 
covetousness, maliciousness ; full of envy, 
murder, debate, deceit, malignity ; whis- 
perers, Ver. 30. Backbiters, haters of 
God, etc. 

z Gen. xxi. 9. And Sarah saw the son of 
Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born 
unto Abraham, mocking. Compared with 
Gal. iv. 29. But as then he that was born 
after the flesh persecuted him that ivas born 
after the Spirit, even so it is now. 

a 1 Cor. vi. 10. Nor thieves, nor covet- 
ous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor 
extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of 
God. 

b Matt. vii. 1. Judge not, that ye be not 
judged. 

c Acts xxviii. 4. And when the barba- 
rians saw the venomous beast hang on his 
hand, they said among themselves, No 
doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though 
he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance 
suffereth not to live. 

d Gen. xxxviii. 24. And it came to pass, 
about three months after, that it was told 
Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law 
hath played the harlot ; and also, behold, 
she is with child by whoredom. And Judah 
said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 
Rom. ii. 1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, 
man, whosoever thou art that judgest : 
for wherein thou judgest another, thou con- 
demnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest 
the same things. 

e Neh. vi. 6. Wherein was written, It 
is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu 
saith it, that thou and the Jews think to 
rebel : for which cause thou buildest the 
wall, that thou mayest be their king, accord- 
ing to these words. Ver. 7. And thou hast 
also appointed prophets to preach of thee 
at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in 
Judah : and now shall it be reported to 



the king according to these words. Come 
now therefore, and let us take counsel 
together. Ver. 8. Then I sent unto him, 
saying, There are no such things done as 
thou sayest, but thou feignest them out 
of thine own heart. Rom. iii. 8. And not 
rather, [as we be slanderously reported, and 
as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, 
that good may come ? ivhose damnation is 
just. Ps. lxix. 10. When I wept, and 
chastened my soul with fasting, that was 
to my reproach. 1 Sam. i. 13. Now Han- 
nah, she spake in her heart ; only her lips 
moved, but her voice was not heard : 
therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 
Ver. 14. And Eli said unto her, How long 
wilt thou be drunken ? put away thy wine 
from thee. Ver. 15. And Hannah ans- 
wered and said, No, my lord; I am a 
woman of a sorrowful spirit : I have drunk 
neither wine nor strong drink, but have 
poured out my soul before the Lord. 2 
Sam. x. 3. And the princes of the children 
of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, 
Thinkest thou that David doth honour 
thy father, that he hath sent comforters 
unto thee ? hath not David rather sent 
his servants unto thee, to search the city, 
and to spy it out, and to overthrow it ? 

1 Ps. xii. 2. They speak vanity every 
one with his neighbour : with flattering lips, 
and with a double heart, do they speak. 
Ver. 3. The Lord shall cut off all flattering 
lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud 
things. 

s 2 Tim. iii. 2. For men shall be lovers 
of their own selves, covetous, boasters. 

h Luke xviii. 9. And he spake this 
parable unto certain which trusted in 
themselves that they were righteous, and 
despised others. Ver. 11. The Pharisee 
stood and prayed thus with himself, God, 
/ thank thee thtit 1 am not as other men are, 
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as 
this publican. Rom. xii. 16. Mind not 
high things, but condescend to men of low 
estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 
1 Cor, iv. 6. And these things, brethren, 
I have in a figure transferred to myself 
and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye 
might learn in us not to think of men above 
that which is written, that no one of you be 
puffed up for one against another. Acts xii. 
22. And the people gave a shout, saying, 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



235 



denying the gifts and graces of God ; 1 aggravating smaller 
faults ; k hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when 
called to a free confession; 1 unnecessary discovering of 
infirmities ; m raising false rumours, 11 receiving and counte- 
nancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just 
defence ; p evil suspicion ; q envying or grieving at the de- 
served credit of any/ endeavouring or desiring to impair it/ 



It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 
Exod. iv. 10. And Moses said unto the Lord, 
my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither 
heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken 
unto thy servant ; but / am slow of speech, 
and of a slow tongue. Ver. 11. And the 
Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's 
mouth ? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, 
or the seeing, or the blind ? have not I the 
Lord ? Ver. 12. Now therefore go, and I 
will be with thy mouth, and teach thee 
what thou shalt say. Ver. 13. And he 
said, my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the 
hand of him whom thou wilt send. Ver. 14. 
And the anger of the Lord was kindled 
against Moses, etc. 

1 Job xxvii. 5. God forbid that I should 
justify you : till I die I will not remove 
mine integrity from me. Ver. 6. My righte- 
ousness I hold fast, and will not let it go ; 
my heart shall not reproach me so long as I 
live. Job iv. 6. Is not this thy fear, thy 
confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of 
thy ways ? 

k Matt. vii. 3. And why beholdest thou 
the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but 
considerest not the beam that is in thine 
own eye ? Ver. 4. Or how wilt thou say 
to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote 
out of thine eye ; and, behold, a beam is 
in thine own eye ? Ver 5. Thou hypo- 
crite, first cast out the beam out of thine 
own eye ; and then shalt thou see clearly 
to cast out the mote out of thy brother's 
eye. 

1 Prov. xxviii. 13. He that cover eth his 
sins shall not prosper; but whoso confess- 
eth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. 
Prov. xxx. 20. Such is the way of an 
adulterous woman ; she eateth, and wipeth 
her mouth, and saith, I have done no wicked- 
ness. Gen. iii. 12. And the man said, 
The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, 
she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. Ver. 
13. And the woman said, The serpent 
beguiled me, and I did eat. Jer. ii. 35. 
Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, 
surely his anger shall turn from me : be- 
hold. I will plead with thee, because thou 
sayest I have not sinned. 2 Kings v. 25. — 



And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest 
thou, Gehazi ? And he said, Thy servant 
went no whither 9 Gen. iv. 9. And the 
Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy 
brother ? And he said, / know not. Am 
I my brother's keeper ? 

m Gen. ix. 22. And Ham, the father of 
Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, 
and told his brethren without. Prov. xxv. 
9. Debate thy cause with thy neighbour 
himself, and discover not a secret to another ; 
Ver. 10. Lest he that heareth it put 
thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not 
away. 

n Exod. xxiii. 1. Thou shalt not raise a 
false report : put not thine hand with the 
wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 

Prov. xxix. 12. If a ruler hearken to 
lies, all his servants are wicked. 

p Acts vii. 56. And (Stephen) said, Be- 
hold, I see the heavens opened, and the 
Son of man standing on the right hand 
of God. Ver. 57. Then they cried out 
with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, — 
Job xxxi. 13. If I did despise the cause 
of my man-servant, or of my maid -servant, 
when they contended with me; Ver. 14. 
What then shall I do when God riseth 
up ? and when he visiteth, what shall I 
answer him ? 

* 1 Cor. xiii. 5. (Charity) doth not be- 
have itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, 
is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. 1 
Tim. vi. 4. He is proud, knowing nothing, 
but doting about questions and strifes of 
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, rail- 
ings, evil surmisings. 

r Numb. xi. 29. And Moses said unto 
him, Enviest thou for my sake ? Would 
God that all the Lord's people were pro- 
phets, and that the Lord would put his 
Spirit upon them ! Matt. xxi. 15. And 
when the chief priests and scribes saw the 
wonderful things that he did, and the 
children crying in the temple, and saying, 
Hosanna to the son of David; they were 
sore displeased. 

s Ezra. iv. 12. Be it known unto the 
king, that the Jews, which came up from 
thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, 



236 THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy/ scornful contempt/ 
fond admiration ; w breach of lawful promises ; x neglecting 
such things as are of good report/ and practising, or not 
avoiding ourselves, or not hindering what we can in others, 
such things as procure an ill name. z 

Q. 146. Which is the tenth commandment? 

A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy 
neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, 
nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor 
his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's? 

Q. 147. What are the duties required in the tenth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The duties required in the tenth commandment are, 
such a full contentment with our own condition/ and such 
a charitable frame of the whole soul toward our neighbour, 
as that all our inward motions and affections touching him, 
tend unto, and further all that good which is his. 



building the rebellious and the bad city, and 
have set up the walls thereof, and joined 
the foundations. Ver. 13. Be it known 
now unto the king, that if this city be 
builded, and the walls set up again, then 
will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, 
and so thou shalt endamage the revenue 
of the kings. 

t Jer. xlviii. 27. For was not Israel a 
derision unto thee ? was he found among 
thieves ? for since thou spakest of him, thou 
skippedst for joy. 

T Ps. xxxv. 15. But in mine adversity 
they rejoiced, and gathered themselves 
together : yea, the abjects gathered them- 
selves together against me, — Ver. 16. 
With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they 
gnashed upon me with their teeth. Ver. 

21. Yea, they opened their mouth wide 
against me, and said, Aha, aha! our eye 
hath seen it. Matt, xxvii. 28. And they 
stripped him, o,ndput on him a scarlet robe. 
Ver. 29. And when they had platted a 
crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, 
and a reed in his right hand : and they 
bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, 
saying, Hail, king of the Jews ! 

w Jude, Ver. 16. These are murmurers, 
complainers, walking after their own 
lusts ; and their mouth speaketh great 
swelling words, having men's persons in 
admiration because of advantage. Acts xii. 

22. And the people gave a shout, saying, 
It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 

x Rom. i. 31 . Without understanding, 



covenant breakers, — 2 Tim. iii. 3. Without 
natural affection, truce-breakers, false ac- 
cusers, etc. 

y 1 Sam. ii. 24. Nay, my sons ; for it 
is no good report that I hear: ye make 
the Lord's people to transgress. 

z 2 Sam. xiii. 12. And she answered 
him, Nay, my brother, do not force me ; 
for no such thing ought to be done in Israel : 
do not thou this folly. Ver. 13. And I, 
whither shall I cause my shame to go ? 
and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the 
fools in Israel. Now therefore, etc. Prov. 
v. 8. Remove thy way far from her, and 
come not nigh the door of her house; Ver. 9. 
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, 
and thy years unto the cruel. Prov. vi. 
33. A wound and dishonour shall he get ; 
and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 

146. a Exod. xx. 17. 

147. b Heb. xiii. 5. Let your conversa- 
tion be without covetousness ; and be con- 
tent with such things as ye have: for he 
hath said, I will never leave thee, nor 
forsake thee. 1 Tim. vi. 6. But godliness 
with contentment is great gain. 

c Job xxxi. 29. If I rejoiced at the de- 
struction of him that hated me, or lifted 
up myself when evil found him. Rom. 
xii. 15. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, 
and weep with them that weep. Ps. cxxii. 
7. Peace be within thy walls, and pro- 
sperity within thy palaces. Ver. 8. For 
my brethren and companions' sakes, I 
will now say, Peace be within thee. Ver. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



237 



Q. 148. What are the sins forbidden in the tenth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The sins forbidden in the tenth commandment 
are, discontentment with our own estate ; d envying e and 
grieving at the good of our neighbour/ together with all 
inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is 
his. s 

Q. 149. Is any man able perfectly to keep the command- 
ments of God ? 

A. Sfo man is able, either of himself/ or by any grace 



9. Because of the house of the Lord our 
God 1 will seek thy good. 1 Tim. i. 5. 
Now, the end of the commandment is charity, 
out of a pure heart, and of a good con- 
science, and of faith unfeigned. Esth. x. 
8. For Mordecai the Jew was next unto 
king Ahasuerus, and great among the 
Jews, and accepted of the multitude of 
his brethren, seeking the wealth of his 
people, and speaking peace to all his seed. 
1 Cor. xiii. 4. Charity suffereih long, and 
is kind; charity envieth not; charity 
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 
Ver. 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, 
seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, 
thinketh no evil ; Ver. 6. Eejoiceth not 
in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 
Ver. 7. Beareth all things, believeth all 
things, hopeth all things, endureth all 
things. 

148. <* 1 Kings xxi. 4. And Ahab came 
into his house heavy and displeased be- 
cause of the word which Naboth the 
Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he 
had said, I will not give thee the in- 
heritance of my fathers : and he laid him 
down upon his bed, and turned away his 
face, and would eat no bread. Esth. v. 
13. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so 
long as I see Mordecai the Jew sit- 
ting at the king's gate. 1 Cor. x. 10. 
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also 
murmured, and were destroyed of the 
destroyer. 

e Gal. v. 26. Let us not be desirous of 
vain-glory, provoking one another, envying 
one another. James iii. 14. But if ye 
have bitter envying and strife in your 
hearts, glory not, and lie not against the 
truth. Ver. 16. For where envying and 
strife is, there is confusion, and every evil 
work. 

f Ps. cxii. 9. He hath dispersed, he hath 
given to the poor ; his righteousness en- 
dureth for ever ; his horn shall be exalted 
with honour. Ver. 10. The wicked shall 



see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with 
his teeth, and melt away : the desire of the 
wicked shall perish. Neh. ii. 10. When 
Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the 
servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it 
grieved them exceedingly that there was come 
a man to seek the welfare of the children of 
Israel. 

s Rom. vii. 7. What shall we say then ? 
Is the law sin ? God forbid. Nay, I had 
not known sin but by the law : for i" had 
not known lust, except the law had said, 
Thou shalt not covet. Ver. 8. But sin, 
taking occasion by the commandment, 
wrought in me all manner of concupis- 
cence. For without the law sin was 
dead. Rom. xiii. 9. For this, Thou shalt 
not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, 
Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear 
false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and 
if there be any other commandment, it 
is briefly comprehended in this saying, 
namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour 
as thyself. Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore 
your members which are upon the earth ; 
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affec- 
tion, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, 
which is idolatry. Deut. v. 21. Neither 
shalt thou desire thy neighbours wife, neither 
shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his 
field, or his man-servant, or his maid- 
servant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing 
that is thy neighbour's. 

149. h James iii. 2. For in many things 
we offend all. If any man offend not in 
word, the same is a perfect man, and 
able also to bridle the whole body. John 
xv. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches : 
he that abideth in me, and I in him, the 
same bringeth forth much fruit ; for with- 
out me ye can do nothing. Rom. viii. 3. 
For what the law could not do, in that it 
was weak through the flesh, God sending 
his own Son in the likeness of sinful 
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the 
flesh. 



238 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



received in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments 
of God; 1 but doth daily break them in thought,* word, 
and deed. 1 

Q. 150. Are all transgressions of the law of God equally 
heinous in themselves, and in the sight of God ? 

A. All transgressions of the law of God are not equally 
heinous; but some sins in themselves, and by reason of 
several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God 
than others.™ 

Q. 151. What are those aggravations that make some sins 
more heinous than others ? 

A. Sins receive their aggravations, 

1. From the persons offending ; n if they be of riper age, 



* Eccl. vii. 20. For there is not a just 
man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth 
not. 1 John i. 8. If we say that we have 
no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth 
is not in us. Ver. 10. If we say that we 
have not sinned, we make him a liar, and 
his word is not in us. Gal. v. 17. For 
the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the 
Spirit against the flesh : and these are 
contrary the one to the other ; so that ye 
cannot do the things that ye would. Rom. 
vii. 18. For I know that in me (that is, in 
my flesh) dwelleth no good thing : for to 
■will is present with me ; hut how to per- 
form that which is good I find not. Ver. 
19. For the good that I would I do not: 
but the evil which I would not, that 
I do. 

Gen. vi. 5. And God saw that the 
wickedness of man was great in the earth, 
and that every imagination of the thoughts 
of his heart was only evil continually. 
Gen. viii. 21. And the Lord said in 
his heart, I will not again curse the 
ground any more for man's sake; for 
the imagination of man's heart is evil from 
his youth, etc 

1 Rom. iii. 9. We have before proved 
both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all 
under sin; Ver. 10. As it is written, 
There is none righteous, no, not one. Ver. 
11. There is none that under standeth, there 
is none that seeketh after God. Ver. 12. 
They are all gone out of the way, they are 
together become unprofitable ; there is none 
that doeth good, no, not one. Ver. 1 3. Their 
throat is an open sepulchre : with their 
tongues they have used deceit : the poison 
of asps is under their lips: Ver. 14. 
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitter- 
ness : Ver. 15. Their feet are swift to 



shed blood: Ver. 16. Destruction and 
misery are in their ways : Ver. 17. And 
the way of peace have they not known : 
Ver. 18. There is no fear of God before 
their eyes. Ver. 19. Now we know, that 
what things soever the law saith, it saith 
to them who are under the law; that 
every mouth may be stopped, and all the 
world may become guilty before God. James 
iii. from Verse 2 to 13. For in many things 
we offend all, etc. 

150. m John xix. 11. Jesus answered, 
Thou couldest have no power at all against 
me, except it were given thee from above : 
therefore he that delivered me unto thee 
hath the greater sin. Ezek. viii. 6. But 
turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see 
greater abominations. Ver. 1 3. Turn thee 
yet again, and thou shalt see greater abomi- 
nations that they do. Ver. 15. Turn thee 
yet again, and thou shalt see greater abomi- 
nations than these. 1 John v. 16. If any 
man see his brother sin a sin which is not 
unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give 
him life for them that sin not unto death. 
There is a sin unto death: I do not say 
that he shall pray for it. Ps. lxxviii. 17. 
And they sinned yet more against him, by 
provoking the most High in the wilder- 
ness. Ver. 32. For all this they sinned 
still, and believed not for his wondrous 
works. Ver. 56. Yet they tempted and 
provoked the most high God, and kept not 
his testimonies. 

151. n Jer. ii. 8. The priests said not, 
Where is the Lord? and they that handle 
the law knew me not: the pastors also 
transgressed against me, and the prophets 
prophesied by Baal, and walked after things 
that do not profit. 

Job xxxii. 7. I said, Bays should speak, 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



239 



greater experience or grace/ eminent for profession/ gifts/ 
place/ office/ guides to others/ and whose example is likely 
to be followed by others, w 

2. From the parties offended : x if immediately against 



and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 
Ver. 9. Great men are not always wise ; 
neither do the aged understand judgment. 
Eccl. iv. 13. Better is a poor and a wise 
child than an old and foolish king, who will 
no more be admonished. 

p 1 Kings xi. 4. For it came to pass, 
when Solomon was old, that his wives 
turned away his heart after other gods : 
and his heart was not perfect with the 
Lord his God, as was the heart of David 
his father. Ver. 9. And the Lord was 
angry with Solomon, because his heart was 
turned from the Lord God of Israel, which 
had appeared unto him twice. 

« 2 Sam. xii. 14. Howbeit, because by 
this deed thou hast given great occasion to 
the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the 
child also that is born unto thee shall 
surely die. 1 Cor. v. 1. It is reported 
commonly that there is fornication among 
you, and such fornication as is not so 
much as named among the Gentiles, that 
one should have his father's wife. 

t James iv. 17. Therefore to him that 
hnoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him 
it is sin. Luke xii. 47. And that servant, 
which knew his lord's will, and prepared not 
himself, neither did according to his will, 
shall be beaten with many stripes. Ver. 48. 
But he that knew not, and did commit 
things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten 
with few stripes. For unto whomsoever 
much is given, of him shall be much required ; 
and to whom men have committed much, 
of him they will ask the more. 

s Jer. v. 4. Therefore I said, Surely these 
are poor; they are foolish: for they know 
not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment 
of their God. Ver. 5. I will get me unto 
the great men, and will speak unto them ; for 
they have known the way of the Lord, and 
the judgment of their God : but these have 
altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds. 

* 2 Sam. xii. 7. And Nathan said to 
David, Thou art the man. Thus saith 
the Lord God of Israel, / anointed thee king 
ever Israel, — Ver. 8. And I gave thee thy 
master's house, and thy master's wives 
into thy bosom, and gave thee the house 
of Israel and of Judah ; and if that had 
been too little, I would moreover have 
given unto thee such and such things. 
Ver. 9. Wherefore hast thou despised the 



commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his 
sight ? Ezek. viii. 11. And there stood 
before them seventy men of the ancients 
of the house of Israel, and in the midst of 
them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, 
with every man his censer in his hand : 
and a thick cloud of incense went up. 
Ver. 12. Then said he unto me, Son of 
man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the 
house of Israel do in the dark, every man 
in the chambers of his imagery ? for they 
say, The Lord seeth us not ; the Lord hath 
forsaken the earth. 

v Bom. ii. 17. Behold, thou art called a 
Jew, and restest in the law, and makest 
thy boast of God, Ver. 18. And knowest 
his wilL — Ver. 19. And art confident that 
thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a 
light of them which are in darkness, Ver. 
20. An instructor of the foolish, a teacher 
of babes, — Ver. 21. Thou therefore which 
teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? 
thou that preachest a man should not steal, 
dost thou steal ? Ver. 22. Thou that say- 
est a man should not commit adultery, dost 
thou commit adultery ? thou that abhorrest 
idols, dost thou commit sacrilege ? Ver. 23. 
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, 
through breaking the law dishonourest thou 
God? Ver. 24. For the name of God is 
blasphemed among the Gentiles through you. 

w Gal. ii. 11. But when Peter was come 
to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, 
because he was to be blamed. Ver. 12. For 
before that certain came from James, he 
did eat with the Gentiles : but when they 
were come, he withdrew, and separated 
himself, fearing them which were of the 
circumcision. Ver. 13. And the other 
Jews dissembled likewise with him ; inso- 
much that Barnabas also was carried away 
with their dissimulation. Ver. 14. But 
when I saw that they walked not uprightly, 
according to the truth of the gospel, I said 
unto Peter before them all, If thou, being 
a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, 
and not as do the Jews, why compellest 
thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews ? 

x Matt. xxi. 38. But when the husband- 
men saw the son, they said among them- 
selves, This is the heir; come, let us kill 
him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 
Ver. 39. And they caught him, and cast 
him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 



240 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



God/ his attributes, 2 and worship; 4 against Christ, and 
his grace ; b the Holy Spirit/ his witness/ and work- 
ings ; e against superiors, men of erninency/ and such 
as we stand especially related and engaged unto ; g against 
any of the saints/ particularly weak brethren/ the souls 

y 1 Sam. ii. 25. If one man sin against partakers of the Holy Ghost, Ver. 5. And 

another, the judge shall judge him ; but hare tasted the good -word of God. and the 

if a man sin against the Lord, who shall powers of the world to come, Ver. 6. If 

entreat for him? Acts v. 4, Thou hast they shall fall away, to renew them again 

not lied unto men, but unto God. Ps. li. 4. unto repentance, etc. 

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and f Jude, Ver. 8. Likewise also these 

done this evil in thy sight ; that thou filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise 

mightest be justified when thou speakest, dominion, nasi speak evil of dignities. Numb, 

and be clear when thou judgest. xii. 8. Wherefore then were ye not afraid 

z Rom. ii. 4. Or despisest thou the riches to speak against my servant Moses ? Ver. 

of his goodness, and forbearance, and long- 9. And the anger of the Lord was kindled 

suffering ; not knowing that the goodness against them ; and he departed. Isa. iii. 

of God leadeth thee to repentance ? 5. The child shall behave himself proudly 

a Mai. i. 8. And if ye offer the blind for against the ancient, and the base against the 

sacrifice, is it not evil ? and if ye offer the honourable. 

lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now s Pro v. xxx. 17. The eye that mocketh 

unto thy governor ; will he be pleased with at his father, and despiseth to obey his 

thee, or accept thy person ? saith the Lord mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick 

of hosts. Ver. 14. But cursed be the it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. 

deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, 2 Cor. xii. 15. And I will very gladly 

and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a spend and be spent for you ; though the 

corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith more abundantly I love you, the less I be 

the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful loved. Ps. lv. 12. For it was not an enemy 

among the heathen. that reproached me ; then I could have borne 

b Heb. ii. 2. For if the word spoken by it ; neither was it he that hated me that 
angels was stedfast, and every transgression did magnify himself against me ; then I 
and disobedience received a just reconi- would have hid myself from him : Ver. 
pence of reward; Ver. 8. How shall we 13. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my 
escape, if we neglect so great salvation ? — guide, and mine acquaintance. Ver. 14. 
Heb. xii. 25. See that ye refuse not him We took sweet counsel together, and 
that speaketh : for if they escaped not who walked unto the house of God in corn- 
refused him that spake on earth, much pany. Ver. 15. Let death seize upon 
more shall not we escape, if we turn aicay them, and let them go down quick into 
from him that speaketh from heaven. hell, etc. 

c Heb. x. 29. Of how much sorer punish- h Zeph. ii. 8. I have heard the reproach 

ment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, of Moab, and the railings of the children 

who hath trodden under foot the Son of of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my 

God ? Matt. xii. 81. Wherefore I say people, — Ver. 10. This shall they have for 

unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy their pride, because they have reproached 

shall be forgiven unto men : but the and magnified themselves against the people 

blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not of the Lord of hosts. Ver. 11. The Lord 

be forgiven unto men. Ver. 82. And who- will be terrible unto them : — Matt, xviii. 6. 

soever speaketh a word against the Son of But whoso shall offend one of these little 

man, it shall be forgiven him : but who- ones which believe in me, it were better for 

soever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it him that a millstone were hanged about 

shall not be forgiven him, neither in this his neck, and that he were drowned in the 

world, neither in the world to come. depth of the sea. 1 Cor. vi. 8. Nay, ye do 

d Eph iv. 30. And grieve not the Holy wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. 

Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto Rev. xvii. 6. And I saw the woman drunken 

the day of redemption. with the blood of the saints, and with the 

e Heb. vi. 4. For it is impossible for blood of the martyrs of Jesus, etc. 
those who were once enlightened, and have i 1 Cor. viii. 11. And through thy know- 

tastcd of the heavenly gift, and were made ledge shall the tccak brother perish, for 



i 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 241 

of them, or any other/ and the common good of all 
or many. 1 

3. From the nature and quality of the offence : m if 
it be against the express letter of the law, n break many 
commandments, contain in it many sins : if not only con- 
ceived in the heart, but breaks forth in words and actions/ 



whom Christ died? Ver. 12. But when 
ye sin so against the brethren, and wound 
their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 
Rom. xiv. 13. Let us not therefore judge 
one another any more : but judge this 
rather, that no man put a stumbling-block, 
or an occasion to fall, in his brother s way. 
Ver. 15. But if thy brother be grieved 
with thy meat, now walkest thou not 
charitably. Destroy not him with thy 
meat for whom Christ died. Ver. 21. It 
is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink 
wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother 
stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 

k Ezek. xiii. 19. And will ye pollute me 
among my people for handfuls of barley, 
and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls 
that should not die, and to save the souls 
alive that should not live, by your lying 
to my people that hear your lies ? 1 Cor. 
viii. 12. But when ye sin so against the 
brethren, and wound their weak conscience, 
ye sin against Christ. Rev. xviii. 12. 
The merchandise of gold, — Ver. 13. And 
cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and 
frankincense, and wine, arid oil, and fine 
flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, 
and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and 
souls of men. Matt, xxiii. 15. Woe unto 
you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for 
ye compass sea and land to make one 
proselyte ; and when he is made, ye make 
him two- fold more the child of hell than 
yourselves. 

1 1 Thess. ii. 15. Who both killed the 
Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and 
have persecuted us ; and they please not 
God, and are contrary to all men; Ver. 16. 
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that 
they might be saved, — Josh. xxii. 20. 
Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a 
trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath 
fell on all the congregation of Israel? and 
that man perished not alone in his ini- 
quity. 

m Prov. vi. 30. Men do not despise a 
thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he 
is hungry: Ver. 31. But if he be found, 
he shall restore seven-fold ; — Ver. 32. But 
whoso committeth adultery with a woman 
lacketh understanding: he that doeth it 



destroy eth his own soul. Ver. 33. A wound 
and dishonour shall he get ; and his re- 
proach shall not be wiped away. And so 
on to the end of the Chapter. 

n Ezra ix. 10. And now, our God, 
what shall we say after this ? for we 
have forsaken thy commandments, Ver. 11. 
Which thou hast commanded by thy servants 
the prophets, saying, The land, unto which 
ye go to possess it, is an unclean land 
with the filthiness of the people. — Ver. 12. 
Now therefore give not your daughters 
unto their sons, etc. 1 Kings xi. 9, And 
the Lord was angry with Solomon, because 
his heart was turned from the Lord God 
of Israel, which had appeared unto him 
twice, Ver. 10. And had commanded him 
concerning this thing, that he should not 
go after other gods : but he kept not that 
which the Lord commanded. 

Col. iii. 5. Mortify therefore your 
members which are upon the earth ; for- 
nication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, 
evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which, 
is idolatry.. 1 Tim. vi. 10. For the love 
of money is the root of all evil; which 
while some coveted after, they have erred 
from the faith, and pierced themselves through 
with many sorrows. Prov. v. 8. Remove 
thy way far from her, and come not nigh 
the door of her house ; Ver. 9. Lest thou 
give thine honour unto others, and thy years 
unto the cruel; Ver. 10. Lest strangers be 
filled with thy wealth, — Ver. 11. And thou 
mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy 
body are consumed, Ver. 12. And say, How 
have I hated instruction, and my heart 
despised reproof! Prov. vi. 32. But whoso 
committeth adultery with a woman lacketh 
understanding : he that doeth it destroyeth 
his own soul. Ver. 33. A wound, and dis- 
honour shall he get. Josh. vii. 21 . When 
I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish 
garment and two hundred shekels of silver, 
and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, 
then / coveted them, and took them, etc. 

p James i. 14. But every man is tempted, 
when he is drawn away of his own lust, 
and enticed. Ver. 15. Then, ivhen lust 
hath conceived, it bringeih forth sin ; and 
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth 

Q 



242 



THE LARGER CATECHISM, 



scandalize others/ and admit of no reparation : r if 
against means/ mercies/ judgments/ light of nature/ 
conviction of conscience/ publick or private admoni- 



death. Matt. v. 22. But I say unto you, 
That whosoever is angry with his brother 
without a cause shall be in danger of the 
judgment ; and whosoever shall say to his 
brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the 
council; but whosoever shall say, Thou 
fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. Micah 
ii. 1. Woe to them that devise iniquity, 
and work evil upon their beds! when the 
morning is light, they practise it, because 
it is in the power of their hand. 

i Matt, xviii. 7. Woe unto the world 
because of offences ! for it must needs be 
that offences come ; but woe to that man 
by whom the offence cometh ! Rom. ii. 23. 
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, 
through breaking the law dishonourest thou 
God ? Ver. 24. For the name of God is 
blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, 
as it is written. 

r Deut. xxii. 22. If a man be found 
lying with a woman married to an husband, 
then they shall both of them die, both the 
man that lay with the woman, and the 
woman : so shalt thou put away evil 
from Israel. Compared with Ver. 28. 
If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, 
which is not betrothed, and lay hold on 
her, and lie with her, and they be found ; 
Ver. 29. Then the man that lay with 
her shall give unto the damseVs father fifty 
shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife ; 
because he hath humbled her, he may not 
put her away all his days. Prov. vi. 32. 
But whoso committeth adultery with a 
woman lacketh understanding : he that 
doeth it destroy eth his own soul. Ver. 33. 
A wound and dishonour shall he get ; and 
his reproach shall not be wiped away. Ver. 
34. For jealousy is the rage of a man ; 
therefore he will not spare in the day of 
vengeance. Ver. 35. He will not regard 
any ransom ; neither will he rest content, 
though thou givest many gifts. 

3 Matt. xi. 21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! 
woe unto thee, Bethsaida ! for if the mighty 
works, which were done in you, had been 
done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have 
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 
Ver. 22. But I say unto you, It shall be 
more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the 
day of judgment than for you. Ver. 23. 
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted 
unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell ; 
for if the mighty works, which have been 
done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it 



would have remained until this day. Ver. 
24. But I say unto you, That it shall be 
more tolerable for the land of Sodom — John 
xv. 22. If I had not come and spoken unto 
them, they had not had sin ; but now they 
have no cloak for their sin. 

1 Isa. i. 3. The ox knoweth his owner, 
and the ass his master's crib: but Israel 
doth not know, my people doth not con- 
sider. Deut. xxxii. 6. Do ye thus re- 
quite the Lord, foolish people and 
unwise ? is not he thy father that hath 
bought thee? hath he not made thee, and 
established thee 9 

v Amos iv. 8. So two or three cities 
wandered unto one city, to drink water ; 
but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not 
returned unto me, saith the Lord. Ver. 9. 
I have smitten you with blasting and 
mildew: when your gardens, and your 
vineyards, and your fig-trees, and your 
olive-trees increased, the palmer-worm de- 
voured them : yet have ye not returned unto 
me, saith the Lord. Ver. 10. I have sent 
among you the pestilence, after the manner 
of Egypt : your young men have / slain 
with the sword, and have taken away your 
horses ; and I have made the stink of your 
camps to come up unto your nostrils : yet 
have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. 
Ver. 11. I have overthrown some of you, 
as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, 
and ye were as a firebrand plucked out 
of the burning : yet have ye not returned 
unto me, saith the Lord. Jer. v. 3. O 
Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth ? 
thou hast stricken them, but they have not 
grieved; thou hast consumed them, but 
they have refused to receive correction : they 
have made their faces harder than a rock ; 
they have refused to return. 

w Rom. i. 26. For this cause God gave 
them up unto vile affections: for even their 
women did change the natural use into 
that which is against nature: Ver. 27. 
And likewise also the men, leaving the 
natural use of the woman, burned in their 
lust one toward another : men with men 
working that which is unseemly, and re- 
ceiving in themselves that recompence of 
their error which was meet. 

x Rom. i. 32. Who, knowing the judgment 
of God, that they which commit such things 
are worthy of death, not only do the same, 
but have pleasure in them that do them. 
Dan. v. 22. And thou his son, Belshaz- 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



243 



tion, 7 censures of the church, 2 civil punishments ; a and our 
prayers, purposes, promises, 1 " vows, c covenants/ and en- 
gagements to God or men : e if done deliberately/ wilfully/ 
presumptuously, 11 impudently, 1 boastingly, k maliciously, 1 fre- 



zar, hast not humbled thine heart, though 
thou knewest all this. Tit. iii. 10. A man 
that is an heretic, after the first and 
second admonition, reject ; Ver, 11. know- 
ing that he that is such is subverted, and 
sinneth, being condemned of himself. 

y Prov. xxix. 1. He that, being often 
reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly 
be destroyed, and that without remedy. 

z Tit. iii. 10. A man that is an heretic, 
after the first and second admonition, reject. 
Matt, xviii. 17. And if he shall neglect to 
hear them, tell it unto the church : but if 
he neglect to hear the church, let him be un- 
to thee as an heathen man and a publican. 

a Prov. xxvii. 22. Though thou shouldest 
bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with 
a pestle, yet xoill not his foolishness depart 
from him. Prov. xxiii. 35. They have 
stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not 
sick : they have beaten me, and I felt it not : 
when shall I awake ? I will seek it yet 
again. 

* Ps. lxxviii. 34. When he slew them, 
then they sought him ; and they returned 
and enquired early after God : Ver. 35. 
And they remembered that God was their 
Rock, and the high God their Redeemer. 
Ver. 36. Nevertheless they did flatter him 
with their mouth, and they lied unto him 
with their tongues. Ver. 37. For their 
heart was not right with him, neither were 
they stedfast in his covenant. Jer. ii. 20. 
For of old time I have broken thy yoke, 
and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I 
will not transgress ; when upon every high 
hill, and under every green tree, thou 
wanderest, playing the harlot. Jer. xlii. 5. 
Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be 
a true and faithful witness between us, if 
we do not even according to all things for 
the which the Lord thy God shall send 
thee to us. Ver. 6, Whether it be good, or 
whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of 
the Lord our God, to whom we send thee. — 
Ver. 20. For ye dissembled in your hearts, 
when ye sent me unto the Lord your God, 
saying, Pray for us unto the Lord our God ; 
and according unto all that the Lord our 
God shall say, so declare unto us, and we 
will do it. Ver. 21 . And now I have this day 
declared it to you : but ye have not obeyed the 
voice of the Lord your God, nor any thing 
for the which he hath sent me unto you. 



c Eccl. v. 4. When thou vowest a vow 
unto God, defer not to pay it ; for he hath 
no pleasure in fools : pay that ivhich thou 
hast vowed. Ver. 5. Better is it that thou 
shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest 
vow and not pay. Ver. 6. Suffer not thy 
mouth to cause thy flesh to sin ; neither 
say thou before the angel, that it was an 
error : wherefore should God be angry at 
thy voice, and destroy the work of thine 
hands ? Prov. xx. 25. It is a snare to the 
man who devour eth that which is holy, and 
after vows to make enquiry. 

d Lev. xxvi. 25. And I will bring a 
sword upon you, that shall avenge the quar- 
rel of my covenant, etc. 

e Prov. ii. 17. Which forsaketh the guide 
of her youth, and forgetieth the covenant of 
her God. Ezek. xvii. 18. Seeing he 
despised the oath by breaking the covenant, 
when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath 
done all these things, he shall not escape. 
Ver. 19. Therefore thus saith the Lord 
God, as I live, surely mine oath that he hath 
despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, 
even it will I recompense upon his own head. 

f Ps. xxxvi. 4. He deviseth mischief upon 
his bed ; he setteth himself in a way that 
is not good ; he abhorreth not evil. 

* Jer. vi. 16. Thus saith the Lord, Stand 
ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the 
old paths, where is the good way, and walk 
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. 
But they said, We will not walk therein. 

h Numb. xv. 30. But the soul that doeth 
ought presumptuously, (whether he be born 
in the land, or a stranger,) the same 
reproacheth the Lord ; and that soul shall 
be cut off from among his people. Exod. 
xxi. 14. But if a man come presumptuously 
upon Ms neighbour, to slay him wi th guile ; 
thou shalt take him from mine altar, that 
he may die. 

1 Jer. iii. 3. Therefore the showers have 
been withholden, and there hath been no 
latter rain ; and thou hadst a whore's fore- 
head, thou refusedst to be ashamed. Prov. 
vii. 13. So she caught him, and kissed him, 
and with an impudent face, said unto him, etc. 

k Ps. Iii. 1. Why boastest thou thyself in 
mischief, mighty man ? 

1 3 John, Ver. 10. Wherefore, if I come, 
I will remember his deeds which he doeth, 
prating against us with malicious words, eta 



244 



THE LARGER CATECHISM, 



quently, m obstinately, 11 with < 
lapsing after repentance.* 1 

4. From circumstances of 
Lord's day/ or other times 

m Numb. xiv. 22. Because all those 
men which have seen my glory, and my 
miracles which I did in Egypt, and in 
the wilderness, have tempted me now these 
ten times, and have not hearkened to my 
voice. 

*» Zech. vii. 11. But they refused to 
hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and 
stopped their ears, that they should not 
hear. Ver. 12. Yea, they made their 
hearts as an adamant-stone, lest they should 
hear the law, and the words which the 
Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by 
the former prophets : therefore came a great 
wrath from the Lord of hosts. 

Prov. ii. 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and 
delight in the frowardness of the wicked. 

p Isa. lvii. 17. For the iniquity of his 
covetousness was I wroth, and smote him : 
1 hid me, and was wroth, and he went on 
frowardly in the way of his heart. 

« Jer. xxxiv. 8. This is the word that 
came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after 
that the king Zedekiah had made a cove- 
nant with all the people which were at 
Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 
Ver. 9. That every man should let his 
man-servant, and every man his maid-servant, 
being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go 
free; that none should serve himself of 
them, to wit, of a Jew his brother. Ver. 
1 0. Now, when all the princes, and all the 
people, which had entered into the covenant, 
heard that every one should let his man- 
servant, and every one his maid-servant,, 
go free, that none should serve themselves 
of them any more ; then they obeyed, and 
let them go. Ver. 11. But afterward they 
turned, and caused the servants and the 
handmaids, whom they had let go free, to 
return, and brought them into subjection for 
servants and for hand-maids. 2 Pet. ii. 20. 
For if after they have escaped the pollutions 
of the world, through the knowledge of the 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are 
again entangled therein, and overcome, 
the latter end is worse with them than the 
beginning. Ver. 21. For it had been 
better for them not to have known the way 
of righteousness, than, after they have known 
it, to turn from the holy commandment 
delivered unto them. Ver. 22. But it is 
happened unto them according to the true 
proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit 



lelight, continuance/ or re- 
time r and place : s if on the 
of divine worship ; v or im- 

again ; and the sow that was washed to her 
wallowing in the mire. 

* 2 Kings v. 26. And he said unto him 
(Gehazi), Went not mine heart with thee, 
when the man turned again from his 
chariot to meet thee ? Is it a time to receive 
money, and to receive garments, and olive- 
yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, 
and men-servants, and maid-servants ? 

s Jer. vii. 10. And come and stand before 
me in this house, which is called by my name, 
and say, We are delivered to do all these 
abominations. Isa. xxvi. 10. Let favour 
be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not 
learn righteousness : in the land of upright- 
ness will he deal unjustly, and will not 
behold the majesty of the Lord. 

* Ezek. xxiii. 37. That they have com- 
mitted adultery, and blood is in their 
hands, and with their idols have they 
committed adultery ; — Ver. 38. Moreover, 
this they have done unto me : they have 
defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and 
have profaned my sabbaths. Ver. 39. For 
when they had slain their children to their 
idols, then they came the same day into my 
sanctuary to profane it ; and, lo, thus have 
they done in the midst of mine house. 

v Isa. lviii. 3. Wherefore have we fasted, 
say they, and thou seest not? wherefore 
have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest 
no knowledge ? Behold, in the day of your 
fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your 
labours. Ver. 4. Behold, ye fast for strife 
and debate, and to smite with the fist of 
wickedness : ye shall not fast as ye do this 
day, to make your voice to be heard on 
high. Ver. 5. Is it such a fast that 1 have 
chosen ? a day for a man to afflict his 
soul ? is it to bow down his head as a 
bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes 
under him ? wilt thou call this a fast, and 
an acceptable day to the Lord? Numb, 
xxv. 6. And, behold, one of the children 
of Israel came, and brought unto his 
brethren a Midianitish woman, in the sight 
of Moses, and in the sight of all the congre- 
gation of the children of Israel, who were 
weeping before the door of the tabernacle of 
the congregation. Ver. 7. And when 
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of 
Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from 
among the congregation, and took a javelin 
in his hand. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



245 



mediately before w or after these/ or other helps to prevent 
or remedy such miscarriages : 7 if in public, or in the 
presence of others, who are thereby likely to be provoked 
or defiled. 55 

Q. 152. What doth every sin deserve at the hands of God? 
A. Every sin, even the least, being against the sovereignty/ 
goodness/ and holiness of Grod/ and against his righteous 



law/ deserveth his wrath and curse/ both 



in this life/ 



and 



* 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together 
therefore into one place, this is not to eat 
the Lord's supper. Ver. 21. For in eat- 
ing every one taketh before other his own 
supper: and one is hungry, and another is 
drunken. 

x Jer. vii. 8. Behold, ye trust in lying 
words, that cannot profit. Ver. 9. Will 
ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, 
and swear falsely, and burn incense unto 
Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye 
know not; Ver. 10. And come and stand 
be/ore me in this house, which is called by 
my name, and say, We are delivered to do 
all these abominations? Prov. vii. 14. I 
have peace-offerings with me; this day have 
I paid my vows: Ver. 15. Therefore came 
I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy 
face, and I have found thee. John xiii. 
27. And after the sop Satan entered into 
him. Then said Jesus unto him, That 
thou doest, do quickly. Ver. 30. He 
then, having received the sop, went immedi- 
ately out, etc. 

y Ezra ix. 13. And after all that is come 
upon us for our evil deeds, and for our 
great trespass, seeing that thou our God 
hast punished us less than our iniquities 
deserve, and hast given us such deliver- 
ance as this ; Ver. 14. Should we again 
break thy commandments, and join in affinity 
with the people of these abominations ? 
wouldest not thou be angry with us till 
thou hadst consumed us ? 

z 2 Sam. xvi. 22. So they spread Absa- 
lom a tent upon the top of the house ; 
and Absalom went in unto his father's 
concubines in the sight of all Israel. 1 Sam. 
ii. 22. Now Mi was very old, and heard 
all that his sons did unto all Israel ; and 
how they lay with the women that assembled 
at the door of the tabernacle of the congrega- 
tion. Ver. 23. And he said unto them, 
Why do ye such things ? for I hear of 
your evil dealings by all this people. 
Ver. 24. Nay, my sons ; for it is no good 
report that I hear : ye make the Lord's 
people to transgress. 

152. a James ii. 10. For whosoever 



shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in 
one point, he is guilty of all. Ver. 11. 
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, 
said also, Do not kill. 

b Exod. xx. 1. And God spake all these 
words, saying, Ver. 2. I am the Lord thy 
God, which have brought thee out of the land 
of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 

c Hab. i. 13. Thou art of purer eyes than 
to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity : 
wherefore lookest thou upon them that 
deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue 
when the wicked devoureth the man that 
is more righteous than he ? Lev. x. 3. 
Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it 
that the Lord spake, saying, I will be 
sanctified in them that come nigh me, and 
before all the people I will be glorified. — 
Lev. xi. 44. For I am the Lord your God : 
ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and 
ye shall be holy ; for I am holy: neither 
shall ye defile yourselves with any manner 
of creeping thing that creepeth upon the 
earth. Ver. 45. For I am the Lord that 
bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, 
to be your God : ye shall therefore be holy ; 
for 1 am holy. 

d 1 John iii. 4. Whosoever committeth 
so the law : for sin is 



the transgression of the law. Kom. vii. 12. 
Wherefore the law is holy, and the command- 
ment holy, and just, and good. 

e Eph. v. 6. Let no man deceive you 
with vain words: for because of these things 
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of 
disobedience. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as 
are of the works of the law are under the 
curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one 
that continueth not in all things which are 
written in the book of the law to do them. 

f Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a living 
man complain, a man for the punishment of 
his sins? Deut. xxviii. from Verse 15 to 
the end. But it shall come to pass, if thou 
wilt not hearken unto the voice of the 
Lord thy God, to observe to do all his 
commandments and his statutes, which I 
command thee this day, that all these 
curses shall come upon thee, and overtake 



246 THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



that which is to come ; g and cannot be expiated but by the 
blood of Christ. h 

Q. 153. What doth God require of us, that we may escape 
his wrath and curse due to us by reason of the transgression of 
the law ? 

A. That we may escape the wrath and curse of God 
due to us by reason of the transgression of the law, he 
requireth of us repentance toward God, and faith toward 
our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 and the diligent use of the out- 
ward means whereby Christ communicates to us the bene- 
fits of his mediation. 1 " 

Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ com- 
municates to us the benefits of his mediation ? 

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ 
communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, 
are all his ordinances; especially the word, sacraments, 
and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect 
for their salvation. 1 



thee. Ver. 16. Cursed shalt thou be in 
the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the 
field. Ver. 17. Cursed shall be thy basket 
and thy store, etc. 

s Matt. xxv. 41. Depart from me, ye 
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the 
devil and his angels. 

h Heb. ix. 22. And almost all things are 
by the law purged with blood ; and without 
shedding of blood is no remission. 1 Pet. i. 
18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were 
not redeemed with corruptible things, as sil- 
ver and gold, from your vain conversation 
received by tradition from your fathers ; 
Ver. 19. But with the precious blood of 
Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and 
without spot. 

153. 1 Acts xx. 21. Testifying both to 
the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance 
toward God, and faith toward our Lord 
Jesus Christ. Matt. iii. 7. But when he 
saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees 
come to his baptism, he said unto them, 
generation of vipers, who hath warned 
you to flee from the wrath to come ? Ver. 
8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for 
repentance. Luke xiii. 3, 5. I tell you, 
Nay : but, except ye repent, ye shall all 
likewise perish. Acts xvi. 30. And (the 
jailer) brought them out, and said, Sirs, 
what must I do to be saved ? Ver. 31. 
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy 
house. John iii, 16. For God so loved the 



world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in him should not 
perish, but have everlasting life. Ver. 18. 
He that believeth on him is not condemned: 
but he that believeth not is condemned 
already. 

k Prov. ii. 1. My son, if thou wilt receive 
my words, and hide my commandments with 
thee ; Ver. 2. So that thou incline thine ear 
unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to under- 
standing ; Ver. 3. Yea, if thou criest after 
knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for under- 
standing ; Ver. 4. If thou seekest her as 
silver, and searchest for her as for hid trea- 
sures ; Ver. 5. Then shalt thou understand 
the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge 
of God. Prov. viii. 33. Hear instruction, 
and be wise, and refuse it not. Ver. 34. 
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching 
daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my 
doors. Ver. 35. For whoso findeth me 
findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the 
Lord. Ver. 36. But he that sinneth 
against me wrongeth his own soul : all 
they that hate me love death. 

154. 1 Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost; Ver. 20. Teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you : and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the world. 
Acts ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly 
in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



247 



Q. 155. How is the word made effectual to salvation ? 

A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but espe- 
cially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of 
enlightening, 111 convincing, and humbling sinners ; n of 
driving them out of themselves, and drawing them unto 
Christ; of conforming them to his image/ and sub- 
duing them to his will ; q of strengthening them against 
temptations and corruptions ; r of building them up in 

in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ver. 
46. And they, continuing daily with one 
accord in the temple, and breaking bread 
from house to house, did eat their meat 
with gladness and singleness of heart, 
Ver. 47. Praising God, and having favour 
with all the people. And the Lord added 
to the church daily such as should be saved. 

155. m Neh. viii. 8. So they read in the 
book, in the law of God, distinctly, and 
gave the sense, and caused them to understand 
the reading. Acts xxvi. 18. To open their 
eyes, and to turn them from darkness to 
light, and from the power of Satan unto 
God, that they may receive forgiveness of 
sins, and inheritance among them which 
are sanctified by faith that is in me. Ps. 
xix. 8. The commandment of the Lord is 
pure, enlightening the eyes. 

n 1 Cor. xiv. 24. But if all prophesy, 
and there come in one that believeth not, 
or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he 
is judged of all : Ver. 25. And thus are the 
secrets of his heart made manifest ; and so, 
falling down on his face, he will worship 
God, and report that God is in you of a 
truth. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 18. Then Shaphan 
the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah 
the priest hath given me a book. And 
Shaphan read it before the king. Ver. 19. 
And it came to pass, when the king had 
heard the words of the law, that he rent 
his clothes. Ver. 26. And as for the king 
of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the 
Lord, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith 
the Lord God of Israel concerning the 
words which thou hast heard, Ver. 27. 
Because thine heart was tender, and thou 
didst humble thyself before God, when thou 
heardest his v)ords against this place, and 
against the inhabitants thereof,- and hum- 
bledst thyself before me, and didst rend 
thy clothes, and weep before me ; I have 
even heard thee also, saith the Lord. 
Ver. 28. Behold, I will gather thee to thy 
fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy 
grave in peace, etc. 

° Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, 
they were pricked in their heart, and said 



unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, 
Men and brethren, what shall we do ? Ver. 
41. Then they that gladly received his 
word were baptized : and the same day 
there were added unto them about three 
thousand souls. Acts viii. from verse 27 
to 39. And, behold, a man of Ethiopia, 
an eunuch of great authority, — Ver. 28. 
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot, 
read Esaias the prophet. Ver. 29. Then 
the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and 
join thyself to this chariot. Ver. 30. And 
Philip ran thither to him, and heard him 
read the prophet Esaias, and said, Under- 
standest thou what thou readest ? — Ver. 
35. Then Philip opened his mouth, and 
began at the same scripture, and preached 
unto him Jesus. Ver. 36. — And the eunuch 
said, See, here is water ; what doth hinder 
me to be baptized ? Ver. 37. And Philip 
said, If thou believest with all thine heart, 
thou mayest. And he answered and said, 
I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 
Ver. 38. — And they went down both into 
the water, both Philip and the eunucla ; 
and he baptized him. 

p 2 Cor. iii. 1 8. But we all, with open 
face beholding as in a glass the glory of 
the Lord, are changed into the same image, 
from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit 
of the Lord. 

4 2 Cor. x. 4. For the weapons of our 
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through 
God to the pulling down of strongholds ; 
Ver. 5. Casting down imaginations, and 
every high thing that exalteth itself against 
the knowledge of God, and bringing into 
captivity every thought to the obedience of 
Christ; Ver. 6. And having in a readiness 
to revenge all disobedience, when your 
obedience is fulfilled. Eom. vi. 17. But 
God be thanked, that ye were the servants 
of sin; but ye have obeyed from the heart 
that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

r Matt. iv. 4. But he answered and said, 
It is written, Man shall not live by bread 
alone, but by every word that proceedeth 
out of the mouth of God. Ver. 7. Jesus 
said unto him, it is written again, Thou shalt . 



248 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. - 



grace, 8 and establishing their hearts in holiness and com- 
fort through faith unto salvation.* 

Q. 156. Is the word of God to be read by all? 

A. Although all are not to be permitted to read the 
word publiekly to the congregation/ yet all sorts of people 



not tempt the Lord thy God. Ver. 10. 

Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, 
Satan : for it is written, Thou shalt worship 
the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou 
serve. Eph. vi. 16. Above all, taking the 
shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to 
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ver. 
17. And take the helmet of salvation, and 
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of 
God. Ps. xix. li. Moreover, by them is 
thy servant warned : and in keeping of them 
there is great reward. 1 Cor. x. 11. Now 
all these things happened unto them for 
ensamples : and they are written for our 
admonition, upon whom the ends of the 
world are come. 

s Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, I 
commend you to God, and to the word of 
his grace, which is able to build you up, and 
to give you an inheritance among all them 
which are sanctified. 2 Tim. iii. 15. And 
that from a child thou hast known the 
holy scriptures, which are able to make thee 
wise unto salvation through faith which is 
in Christ Jesus. Ver. 16. All scripture is 
given by inspiration of God, and is profit- 
able for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, 
for instruction in righteousness ; Ver. 17. 
That the man of God may be perfect, 
throughly furnished unto all good works. 

t Eom. xvi. 25. Now to him that is of 
power to stablish you according to my gospel, 
and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according 
to the revelation of the mystery, which 
was kept secret since the world began. 
1 Thess. iii. 2. And sent Timotheus, our 
brother, and minister of God, and our 
fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to 
establish you, and to comfort you concerning 
your faith ; Ver. 10. Night and day pray- 
ing exceedingly that we might see your 
face, and might perfect that which is lacking 
in your faith. Ver. 11. Now God himself 
and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, 
direct our way tinto you. Ver. ] 3. To 
the end he may stablish your hearts unblame- 
able in holiness before God, even our 
Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus 
Christ with all his saints. Rom. xv. 4. 
For whatsoever things were written afore- 
time were written for our learning ; that we, 
through patience and comfort of the scriptures, 
have hope. Rom. x. 13. For whoso- 



ever shall call upon the name of the Lord 
shall be saved. Ver. 14. How then shall 
they call on him in whom they have not 
believed ? and how shall they believe in him 
of whom they have not heard ? and how 
shall they hear without a preacher ? Ver. 15. 
And how shall they preach except they be 
sent ? as it is written, How beautiful are 
the feet of them that preach the gospel of 
peace, and bring glad tidings of good 
things! Ver. 16. But they have not all 
obeyed the gospel : for Esaias saith, Lord, 
who hath believed our report ? Ver. 17. 
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing 
by the word of God. Rom. i. 16. For I am 
not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it 
is the power of God unto salvation to every 
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also 
to the Greek. 

156. v Deut. xxxi. 9. And Moses wrote 
this law, and delivered it unto the priests, the 
sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the 
covenant of the Lord, and unto all the 
elders of Israel. Ver. 11. When all Israel 
is come to appear before the Lord thy God 
in the place which he shall choose, thou 
shalt read this law before all Israel in their 
hearing. Ver. 12. Gather the people 
together, men, and women, and children, 
and thy stranger that is within thy gates, 
that they may hear, and that they may 
learn, and fear the Lord your God, and 
observe to do all the words of this law ; 
Ver. 13. And that their children, which 
have not known any thing, may hear, and 
learn to fear the Lord your God, as 
long as ye live in the land whither ye go 
over Jordan to possess it. Neh. viii. 2. 
And Ezra the priest brought the law before 
the congregation, both of men and women, 
and all that could hear with understanding, 
upon the first day of the seventh month. 
Ver. 3. And he read therein before the 
street that was before the water-gate, from 
the morning until mid- day, before the men 
and the women, and those that could 
understand : and the ears of all the people 
were attentive unto the book of the law. 
Neh. ix. 3. And they stood up in their place, 
and read in the book of the law of the Lord 
their God one fourth part of the day ; and 
another fourth part they confessed, and 
worshipped the Lord their God. Ver. 4. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



249 



are bound to read it apart by themselves/ and with their 
families : x to which end, the holy scriptures are to be trans- 
lated out of the original into vulgar languages/ 

Q. 157. How is the word of God to be read? 

A. The holy scriptures are to be read with an high and 
reverent esteem of them ; z with a firm persuasion that 



Then stood up upon the stairs, of the 
Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, etc., and cried 
"with a loud voice unto the Lord their God. 
Ver. 5. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and 
Kadmiel, etc., said, Stand up and bless the 
Lord your God for ever and ever ; and 
blessed be thy glorious name, which is 
exalted above all blessing and praise. 

w Deut, xvii. 19. And it shall be with him, 
and he shall read therein all the days of his 
life ; that he may learn to fear the Lord 
his God, to keep all the words of this law, 
and these statutes, to do them. Rev. i. 3. 
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear 
the words of this prophecy, and keep those 
things which are written therein : for the 
time is at hand. John v. 89. Search the 
scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have 
eternal life : and they are they which 
testify of me. Isa. xxxiv. 1 6. Seek ye out 
of the book of the Lord, and read ; no one 
of these shall fail, etc. 

x Deut. vi. 6. And these words, which I 
command thee this day, shall be in thine 
heart ; Ver. 7. And thou shalt teach them 
diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk 
of them when thou sittest in thine house, 
and when thou walkest by the way, and 
when thou liest down, and when thou risest 
up. Ver. 8. And thou shalt bind them 
for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall 
be as frontlets between thine eyes. Ver. 
9. And thou shalt write them upon the posts 
of thy house, and on thy gates. Gen. xviii. 
17. And the Lord said, Shall I hide from 
Abraham that thing which I do ? Ver. 19. 
For I know him, that he will command his 
children and his household after him, and 
they shall keep the way of the Lord, etc. 
Ps. lxxviii. 5. For he established a testimony 
in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, 
which he commanded our fathers, that they 
should make them known to their children ; 
Ver. 6. That the generation to come might 
know them, even the children which should 
be born, who should arise and declare them 
to their children ; Ver. 7. That they might 
set their hope in God, and not forget the 
works of God, but keep his commandments. 

y 1 Cor. xiv. 6. Now, brethren, if I come 
unto you speaking with tongues, what 



shall I profit you, except I shall speak to 
you either by revelation, or by knowledge, 
or by prophesying, or by doctrine ? Ver. 
9. So likewise ye, except ye utter by the 
tongue words easy to be understood, how 
shall it be known what is spoken ? for ye 
shall speak into the air. Ver. 11. Therefore 
if 1 know not the meaning of the voice, I shall 
be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and 
he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto 
me. Ver. 12. Even so ye, forasmuch as 
ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that 
ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 
Ver. 15. What is it then ? I will pray 
with the spirit, and 1" will pray with the 
understanding also; I will sing with the 
spirit, and / will sing with the understanding 
also. Ver. 16. Else, when thou shalt bless 
with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth 
the room of the unlearned say Amen at 
thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth 
not what thou sayest ? Ver. 24. But if all 
prophesy, and there come in one that 
believeth not, or one unlearned, he is 
convinced of all, he is judged of all. Ver. 
27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, 
let it be by two, or at the most by three, 
and that by course ; and let one interpret. 
Ver. 28. But if there be no interpreter, let 
him keep silence in the church ; and let him 
speak to himself, and to God. 

157. z Ps. xix. 10. More to be desired 
are they than gold, yea, than much fine 
gold ; sweeter also than honey, and the honey- 
comb. Neh. viii. 3. And he read therein 
before the street that was before the 
water-gate, from the morning until mid- 
day, before the men and the women, and 
those that could understand : and the ears 
of all the people were attentive unto the book 
of the law. Ver. 4. And Ezra the scribe 
stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they 
had made for the purpose : — Ver. 5. And 
Ezra opened the book in the sight of all 
the people; (for he was above all the 
people ;) and, when he opened it, all the 
people stood up : Ver. 6. And Ezra blessed 
the Lord, the great God : and all the people 
answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their 
hands ; and they bowed their heads, and 
worshipped the Lord with their faces to the 



250 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



they are the very word of God/ and that he only can 
enable us to understand them; b with desire to know, 
believe, and obey the will of God revealed in them ; c with 
diligence/ and attention to the matter and scope of them ; e 
with meditation/ application/ self-denial/ and prayer. 1 



ground, &c. to Verse 10. Exod. xxiv. 7. 
And he (Moses) took the book of the 
covenant, and read in the audience of the 
people : and they said, All that the Lord 
hath said will we do, and be obedient. 2 
Chron. xxxiv. 27. Because thine heart was 
tender, and thou didst humble thyself before 
God, when thou heardest his words against 
this place, and against the inhabitants 
thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, 
and didst rend thy clothes, and weep 
before me ; / have even heard thee also, saith 
the Lord. Isa. lxvi. 2. But to this man 
will I look, even to him that is poor, and 
of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 

a 2 Pet. i. 19. We have also a more sure 
word of prophecy ; whereunto ye do well that 
ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth 
in a dark place, until the day dawn, and 
the day-star arise in your hearts : Ver. 20. 
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the 
scripture is of any private interpretation. 
Ver. 21. For the prophecy came not in old 
time by the will of man ; but holy men of 
God spake as they were moved by the Holy 
Ghost 

b Luke xxiv. 45. Then opened he their 
understanding, that they might understand 
the scriptures. 2 Cor. iii. 13. And not 
as Moses, which put a vail over his face, 
that the children of Israel could not sted- 
fastly look to the end of that which is 
abolished : Ver. 14. But their minds were 
blinded : for until this day remaineth the 
same vail untaken away in the reading of 
the old testament ; which vail is done 
away in Christ. Ver. 15. But even unto 
this day, when Moses is read, the vail is 
upon their heart. Ver. 16. Nevertheless, 
when it shall turn to tlie Lord, the vail shall 
be taken away. 

c Deut. xvii. 10. And it shall be with 
him, and he shall read therein all the days 
of his life ; that he may learn to fear the 
Lord his God, to keep all the words of this 
law, and these statutes, to do them : Ver. 
20. That his heart be not lifted up above 
his brethren, and that he turn not aside 
from the commandment, to the right hand 
or to the left : to the end that he may 
prolong his days, etc. 

d Acts xvii. 11. These (Bereans) were 
more noble than those in Thessalonica, in 



that they received the word with all readi- 
ness of mind, and searched the scriptures 
daily, whether those things were so. 

e Acts viii. 30. And Philip ran thither 
to him, and heard him read the prophet 
Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what 
thou readest ? Ver. 34. And the eunuch 
answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of 
whom speaketh the prophet this ? of himself, 
or of some other man ? Luke x. 26. He 
said unto him, What is written in the law ? 
how readest thou? Ver. 27. And he, 
answering, said, Thou shalt love the Lord 
thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
thy soul, and with all thy strength, and 
with all thy mind ; and thy neighbour as 
thyself. Ver. 28. And he said unto him, 
Thou hast answered right: this do, and 
thou shalt live. 

f Ps. i. 2. But his delight is in the law 
of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate 
day and night. Ps. cxix. 97. O how love 
I thy law ! it is my meditation all the day. 

g 2 Chron. xxxiv. 21. Go, enquire of the 
Lord for me, and for them that are left 
in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words 
of the book that is found : for great is the 
wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon 
us, because our fathers have not kept the 
word of the Lord, to do after all that is 
written in this book. 

& Prov. iii. 5. Trust in the Lord with 
all thine heart ; and lean not unto thine 
own understanding. Deut. xxxiii. 3. Yea, 
he loved the people ; all his saints are in 
thy hand : and they sat down at thy feet ; 
every one shall receive of thy words. 

i Prov. ii. 1. My son, if thou wilt re- 
ceive my words, and hide my command- 
ments with thee ; Ver. 2. So that thou 
incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply 
thine heart to understanding ; Ver. 3. 
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and 
liftest up thy voice for understanding; 
Ver. 4. If thou seekest her as silver, and 
searchest for her as for hid treasures; 
Ver. 5. Then shalt thou understand the 
fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge 
of God. Ver. 6. For the Lord giveth 
wisdom : out of his mouth cometh know- 
ledge and understanding. Ps. cxix. 18. 
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold 
wondrous things out of thy law. Neh. vii. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



251 



Q. 158. By whom is the word of God to be preached? 

A. The word of God is to be preached only by such as 
are sufficiently gifted/ and also duly approved and called 
to that office. 1 

Q. 159. How is the word of God to be preached by those 
that are called thereunto ? 

A. They that are called to labour in the ministry of 
the word, are to preach sound doctrine/* diligently, 11 in 
season and out of season; plainly/ not in the enticing 
words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the 
Spirit, and of power ; q faithfully/ making known the 



6. And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great 
God: and all the people answered, Amen, 
with lifting up their hands ; and 
their heads, and worshipped the 
Lord, with their faces to the ground. 
Ver. 8. So they read in the book, in the law 
of God, distinctly, etc. 

158. k 1 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must 
be blameless, the husband of one wife, 
vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to 
hospitality, apt to teach; Ver. 6. Not a 
novice, lest, being lifted up with pride, he 
fall into the condemnation of the devil. Eph. 
iv. 8. Wherefore he saith, When he as- 
cended up on high, he led captivity cap- 
tive, and gave gifts unto men. Ver. 9. 
("Now that he ascended, what is it but 
that he also descended first into the lower 
parts of the earth ? Ver. 10. He that 
descended is the same also that ascended 
up far above all heavens, that he might fill 
all things.) Ver. 11. And he gave some, 
apostles; and some, evangelists; and some, 
pastors and teachers. Hosea iv. 6. My 
people are destroyed for lack of know- 
ledge : because thou hast rejected knowledge, 
I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no 
priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten 
the law of thy God, I will also forget thy 
children. Mai. ii. 7. For the priest's lips 
should keep knowledge, and they should seek 
the law at his mouth: for he is the mes- 
senger of the Lord of hosts. 2 Cor. iii. 6. 
Who also hath made us able ministers of 
the new testament ; not of the letter, but of 
the spirit : for the letter killeth, but the 
spirit giveth life. 

\ Jer. xiv. 15. Therefore thus saith the 
Lord concerning the prophets that prophesy 
in my name, and I sent them not, etc. Rom. 
x. 15. And how shall they preach except they 
be sent ? Heb. v. 4. And no man takeih 
this honour unto himself, but he that is called 
of God, as was Aaron. 1 Cor. xii. 28. 



And God hath set some in the church, first, 
apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, 
teachers ; after that miracles ; then gifts 
of healings, helps, governments, diversities of 
tongues. Ver. 29, Are all apostles ? are all 
prophets ? are all teachers ? are all workers 
of miracles ? 1 Tim. iii. 10. And let these 
also first be proved ; then let them use the 
office of a deacon, being found blameless. 
1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift that is 
in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, 
with the laying on of the hands of the pres- 
bytery. 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly 
on no man, neither be partaker of other 
men's sins : keep thyself pure. 

159. m Tit. ii. 1. But speak thou the 
things which become sound doctrine. Ver. 8. 
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; 
that he that is of the contrary part may 
be ashamed, having no evil thing to say 
of you. 

n Acts xviii. 25. This man was in- 
structed in the way of the Lord ; and, 
being fervent in the spirit, he spake and 
taught diligently the things of the Lord, etc. 

2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word ; be 
instant in season, out of season ; reprove, 
rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and 
doctrine. 

p 1 Cor. xiv. 19. Yet in the church / 
had rather speak five words with my under- 
standing, that by my voice I might teach 
others also, than ten thousand words in an 
unknown tongue. 

v 1 Cor. ii. 4. And my speech and my 
preaching was not with enticing words of 
man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the 
Spirit, and of power. 

r Jer. xxiii. 28. The prophet that hath 
a dream, let him tell a dream; and he 
that hath my word, let him speak my word 
faithfully : what is the chaff to the wheat ? 
saith the Lord. 1 Cor. iv..l. Let a man 
so account of us as of the ministers of 



252 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



whole counsel of G-od; s wisely/ applying themselves to 
the necessities and capacities of the hearers ; v zealously/ 
with fervent love to G-od x and the souls of his people ; 7 
sincerely, 2 aiming at his glory/ and their 
edification/ and salvation. d 



conversion, 



Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of 
God. Ver. 2. Moreover, it is required in 
stewards, that a man be found faithful. 

3 Acts xx. 27. For I have not shunned 
to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 

4 Col. i. 28. Whom we preach, warning 
every man, and teaching every man in all 
wisdom ; that we may present every man 
perfect in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim. ii. 15. 
Study to show thyself approved unto God, 
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 
rightly dividing the word of truth. 

v 1 Cor. iii. 2. I have fed you with milk, 
and not with meat: for hitherto ye were 
not able to bear it, neither yet now are 
ye able. Heb. v. 12. For when for the 
time ye ought to be teachers, ye have 
need that one teach you again which be 
the first principles of the oracles of God ; 
and are become such as have need of milk, 
and not of strong meat. Ver. 13. For every 
one that useth milk is unskilful in the 
word of righteousness ; for he is a babe. 
Ver. 1 4. But strong meat belongeth to them 
that are of full age, even those who by 
reason of use have their senses exercised 
to discern both good and evil. Luke xii. 
42. And the Lord said, Who then is that 
faithful and wise steward, whom his lord 
shall make ruler over his household, to give 
them their portion of meat in due season ? 

w Acts xviii. 25. This man was instruct- 
ed in the way of the Lord ; and, being 
fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught 
diligently the things of the Lord, etc. 

* 2 Cor. v. 13. For whether we be 
beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether 
we be sober, it is for your cause. Ver. 
14. For the love of Christ constraineth us ; 
because we thus judge, that if one died 
for all, then were all dead. Phil. i. 15. 
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and 
strife; and some also of good will. Ver. 
16. The one preach Christ of contention, 
not sincerely, supposing to add affliction 
to my bonds; Ver. 17. But the other of 
love, knowing that I am set for the defence 
of the gospel. 

y Col. iv. 12. Epaphras, who is one of 
you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, 
always labouring fervently for you in prayers, 
that ye may stand perfect and complete in all 
the will of God. 2 Cor. xii. 15. And / will 



very gladly spend and be spent for you; 
though the more abundantly I love you, 
the less I be loved. 

z 2 Cor. ii. 17. For we are not as many, 
which corrupt the word of God: but as of 
sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of 
God speak we in Christ. 2 Cor. iv. 2. But 
have renounced the hidden things of dis- 
honesty, not walking in craftiness, nor 
handling the word of God deceitfully ; but, 
by manifestation of the truth, commending 
ourselves to every man's conscience in the 
sight of God. 

a 1 Thess. ii. 4. But as we were allowed 
of God to be put in trust with the gospel, 
even so we speak ; not as pleasing men, but 
God, which trieth our hearts. Ver. 5. 
For neither at any time used we flattering 
words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covet- 
ousness ; God is witness : Ver. 6. Nor of 
men sought we glory, neither of you, nor 
yet of others, when we might have been 
burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 
John vii. 18. He that speaketh of himself 
seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh 
his glory that sent him, the same is true, and 
no unrighteousness is in him. 

»> 1 Cor. ix. 19. For though I be free 
from all men, yet have I made myself 
servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 
Ver. 20. And unto the Jews I became as 
a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them 
that are under the law, as under the law, 
that I might gain them that are under the 
law; Ver. 21. To them that are without 
law, as without law, (being not without 
law to God, but under the law to Christ,) 
that I might gain them that are without law. 
Ver. 22. To the weak became I as weak, 
that I might gain the weak: I am made all 
things to all men, that I might by all means 
save some. 

c 2 Cor. xii. 19. Again, think ye that 
we excuse ourselves unto you ? we speak 
before God in Christ : but we do all things, 
dearly beloved, for your edifying. Eph. 
iv. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, 
for the work of the ministry, for the edify- 
ing of the body of Christ. 

a 1 Tim. iv. 16. Take heed unto thyself, 
and unto the doctrine ; continue in them : 
for in doing this thou shalt both save thy- 
self, and them that hear thee. Acts xxvi. 16. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



253 



Q. 160. What is required of those that hear the word 
preached ? 

A. It is required of those that hear the word preached, 
that they attend upon it with diligence/ preparation/ and 
prayer; 2 examine what they hear by the scriptures; 11 
receive the truth with faith/ love/ meekness/ and readi- 
ness of nrind/ 1 as the word of God ; n meditate/ and confer 
of it ; p hide it in their hearts, q and bring forth the fruit 
of it in their lives/ 



But rise, and stand upon thy feet : for I 
have appeared unto thee for this purpose, 
to make thee a minister and a witness both 
of these things which thou hast seen, and 
of those things in the which I will appear 
unto thee; Ver. 17. Delivering thee from 
the people, and from the Gentiles, unto 
whom now I send thee, Ver. 18. To open 
their eyes, and to turn them from darkness 
to light, and from the power of Satan unto 
God, that they may receive forgiveness of 
sins, and inheritance among them which 
are sanctified by faith that is in me. 

160. e Prov. viii. 34. Blessed is the man 
that heareth me, watching daily at my 
gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 

f 1 Pet. ii. 1. Wherefore, laying aside all 
malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and 
envies, and all evil speakings, Ver. 2. As 
new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of 
the word, that ye may grow thereby. 
Luke viii. 18. Take heed therefore how ye 
hear : for whosoever hath, to him shall be 
given ; and whosoever hath not, from him 
shall be taken even that which he seemeth 
to have. 

g Ps. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that 
I may behold wondrous things out of thy 
law. Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with 
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, 
and watching thereunto with all persever- 
ance and supplication for all saints ; Ver. 
19. And for me, that utterance may be 
given unto me, that I may open my mouth 
boldly, to make known the mystery of the 



h Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble 
than those in Thessalonica, in that they 
received the word with all readiness of 
mind, and searched the scriptures daily, 
whether those things were so. 

i Heb. iv. 2. For unto us was the 
gospel preached, as well as unto them : 
but the word preached did not profit them, 
not being mixed with faith in them that 
heard it. 

2 Thess. ii. 10. And with all de- 



ceivableness of unrighteousness in them 
that perish; because they received not the 
love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

i James i. 21. Wherefore, lay apart all 
filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, 
and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, 
which is able to save your souls. 

m Acts xvii. 11. These were more noble 
than those in Thessalonica, in that they 
received the word with all readiness of mind, 
and searched the scriptures daily, whether 
those things were so. 

n 1 Thess. ii. 13. For this cause also 
thank we God without ceasing, because, 
when ye received the word of God which 
ye heard of us, ye received it not as the 
word of men, but (as it is in truth) the word 
of God, which effectually worketh also in 
you that believe. 

Luke ix. 44. Let these sayings sink 
down into your ears : for the Son of man 
shall be delivered into the hands of men. 
* Heb. ii. 1. Therefore we ought to give the 
more earnest heed to the things which we 
have heard, lest at any time we should let 
them slip. 

p Luke xxiv. 14. And they talked to- 
gether of all these things which had happened. 
Deut. vi. 6. And these words, which I 
command thee this day, shall be in thine 
heart ; Ver. 7. And thou shalt teach 
them diligently unto thy children, and 
shalt talk of them when thou sittest in 
thine house, and when thou walkest by 
the way, and when thou liest down, and 
when thou risest up. 

1 Prov. ii. 1. My son, if thou wilt 
receive my words, and hide my command- 
ments with thee. Ps. cxix. 11. Thy word 
have / hid in mine heart, that I might not 
sin against thee. 

r Luke viii. 1 5. But that on the good 
ground are they, which in an honest and 
good heart, having heard the word, keep 
it, and bring forth fruit with patience. 
James i. 25. But whoso looketh into the 
perfect law of liberty, and continueth 



254 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 161. Hoiv do the sacraments become effectual means of 
salvation ? 

A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, 
not by any power in themselves, ,or any virtue derived 
from the piety or intention of him by whom they are 
administered, but only by the working of the Holy Ghost, 
and the blessing of Christ, by whom they are instituted. 8 

Q. 162. What is a sacrament? 

A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by 
Christ in his church,* to signify, seal, and exhibit v unto 
those that are within the covenant of grace, w the benefits 
of his mediation ; x to strengthen and increase their 
faith, and all other graces ; y to oblige them to obedi- 



therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, 
but a doer of the work, this man shall be 
blessed in his deed. 

161. s 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure 
whereunto even baptism doth also now 
save us, (not the putting away of the filth of 
the flesh, but the answer of a good con- 
science toward God.) by the resurrection of 
Jesus Christ. Acts viii. 13. Then Simon 
himself believed also r and when he was 
baptized, he continued with Philip, and 
wondered, beholding the miracles and signs 
which were done. Compared with Ver. 
23. For I perceive (said Peter to Simon) 
that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in 
the bond of iniquity. 1 Cor. iii. 6. I have 
planted, Apollos watered; but God gave 
the increase. Ver. 7. So then neither is 
he that planteth any thing, neither he that 
watereth ; but God that giveth the increase. 
1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we 
all baptized into one body, whether we be 
Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or 
free ; and have been all made to drink 
into one Spirit. 

162. * Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish 
my covenant between me and thee, and thy 
seed after thee, in their generations, for an 
everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, 
and to thy seed after thee. Ver. 10. This 
is my covenant, which ye shall keep, be- 
tween me and you, and thy seed after 
thee ; Every man-child among you shall 
be circumcised. Exod. Chap. xii. Con- 
taining the institution of the passover. 
* Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost. Matt. xxvi. 26. And 
as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and 
blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the 



disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 
Ver. 27. And he took the cup, and gave 
thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye 
all of it: Ver. 28. For this is my blood of 
the new testament, which is shed for many 
for the remission of sins. 

v Rom. iv. 11. And he received the 
sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteous- 
ness of the faith which he had yet being 
uncircumcised : that he might be the 
father of all them that believe, though 
they be not circumcised ; that righteous- 
ness might be imputed unto them also. 1 
Cor. xi. 24. And, when he had given 
thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat ; 
this is my body, which is broken for you : 
this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. 
After the same manner also he took the 
cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup 
is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, 
as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

w Rom. xv. 8. Now I say, that Jesus 
Christ was a minister of the circumcision 
for the truth of God, to confirm the promises 
made unto the fathers. Exod, xii. 48. And 
when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, 
and will keep the passover to the Lord, 
let all his males be circumcised, and then let 
him come near and keep it; and he shall be 
as one that is born in the land: for no 
uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 

x Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto 
them, Repent, and be baptized every one 
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the 
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the 
gift of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. x. 16. The 
cup of blessing which we bless, is it not 
the communion of the blood of Christ ? the 
bread which we break, is it not the com- 
munion of the body of Christ ? 

y Rom. iv. 11. [See in v above.] Gal. iii 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



255 



ence; z to testify and cherish their love and communion 
one with another ; a and to distinguish them from those 
that are without. 5 

Q. 163. What are the parts of a sacrament ? 

A. The parts of a sacrament are two ; the one an out- 
ward and sensible sign, used according to Christ's own 
appointment; the other an inward and spiritual grace 
thereby signified. 

Q. 164. How many sacraments hath Christ instituted in 
his church under the New Testament? 

A. Under the New Testament Christ hath instituted 
in his church only two sacraments, baptism and the Lord's 
supper. d 

Q. 165. What is Baptism ? 

A. Baptism is a sacrament of the Kew Testament, 
wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost, 6 to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into 



27. For as many of you as have been bap- 
tized into Christ have put on Christ. 

z Kom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so 
many of us as were baptized into Jesus 
Christ were baptized into his death ? Ver. 
4. Therefore we are buried with him by 
baptism into death ; that like as Christ was 
raised up from the dead by the glory of 
the Father, even so we also should walk in 
newness of life. 1 Cor. x. 21. Ye cannot 
drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of 
devils : ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's 
table, and of the table of devils. 

a Eph. iv. 2. With all lowliness and 
meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing 
one another in love; Ver. 3. Endeavouring 
to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of 
peace. Ver. 4. There is one body, and one 
Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope 
of your calling; Ver. 5. One Lord, one 
faith, one baptism. 1 Cor. xii. 13. For 
by one Spirit are we all baptized into one 
body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, 
whether we be bond or free ; and have 
all been made to drink into one Spirit. 

b Eph. ii. 11. Wherefore remember, that 
ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, 
who are called Uncircumcision by that 
which is called the Circumcision in the 
flesh made by hands; Ver. 12. That at 
that time ye were without Christ, being 
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and 
strangers from the covenants of promise, 
having no hope, and without God in the 



world. Gen. xxxiv. 14. And they said 
unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give 
our sister to one that is uncircumcised ; for 
that were a reproach unto us. 

163. c Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize 
you with water unto repentance: but he 
that cometh after me is mightier than I, 
whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he 
shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and 
with fire. 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure 
whereunto even baptism doth also now save 
us, {not the putting away of the filth of the 
flesh, but the answer of a good conscience 
toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ. Rom. ii. 28. For he is not a Jew 
which is one outwardly ; neither is that 
circumcision which is outward in the flesh : 
Ver. 29. But he is a Jew which is one 
inwardly: and circumcision is that of the 
heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter ; 
whose praise is not of men, but of God. 

164. d Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye there- 
fore, and teach all nations, baptizing them 
in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 
20. When ye come together therefore into 
oae place, this is not to eat the Lord's 
supper. Ver. 23. For I have received of 
the Lord that which also I delivered unto 
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night 
in which he was betrayed, took bread. Matt, 
xxvi. 26, 27, 28. [See above in *.] 

165. e Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye there- 
fore, and teach all nations, baptizing them 



256 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



himself/ of remission of sins by his blood/ and regenera- 
tion by his Spirit; 11 of adoption/ and resurrection unto 
everlasting life ; k and whereby the parties baptized are 
solemnly admitted into the visible church/ and enter into 
an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only 
the Lord's. m 

Q. 166. Unto whom is baptism to he administered? 

A* Baptism is not to be administered to any that are 
out of the visible church, and so strangers from the cove- 
nant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and 
obedience to him, n but infants descending from parents, 
either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, 
and obedience to him, are in that respect within the 
covenant, and to be baptized. 



in the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost. 

f Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as 
have been baptized into Christ have put on 
Christ. 

% Mark i. 4. John did baptize in the 
wilderness, and preach the baptism of re- 
pentance for the remission of sins. Rev. i. 
5. Unto him that loved us, and washed us 
from our sins in his own blood. 

h Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righte- 
ousness which we have done, but according 
to his mercy he saved us, by the washing 
of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
Ghost. Eph. v. 26. That he might sanctify 
and cleanse it with the washing of water by 
the word. 

» Gal. iii. 26. For ye are all the children 
of God, by faith in Christ Jesus. Ver. 27. 
For as many of you as have been baptized 
into Christ have put on Christ. 

k 1 Cor. xv. 29. Else what shall they do 
which are baptized for the dead, if the dead 
rise not at all? why are they then bap- 
tized for the dead ? Rom. vi. 5. For if we 
have been planted together in the likeness of 
his death, we shall be also in tJie likeness of 
his resurrection. 

1 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are 
we all baptized into one body, whether we be 
Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or 
free ; and have been all made to drink into 
one Spirit. 

m Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried 
with him by baptism into death ; that like as 
Christ was raised up from the dead by the 
glory of the Father, even so we also should 
walk in newness of life. 

166. n Acts viii. 36. And as they went 
on their way they came unto a certain 



water : and the eunuch said, See, here is 
water ; what doth hinder me from being 
baptized ? Ver. 37. And Philip said, If 
thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. 
And he answered and said, I believe that 
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Acts ii. 
38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and 
be baptized every one of you in the name 
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, 
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 
Ghost. 

o Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my 
covenant between me and thee, and thy seed 
after thee in their generations, for an ever- 
lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and 
to thy seed after thee. Ver. 9. And God 
said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my 
covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after 
thee, in their generations. Compared with 
Gal. iii. 9. So then they which be of faith 
are blessed with faithful Abraham. Ver. 
14. That the blessing of Abraham might 
come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ: 
that we might receive the promise of the 
Spirit through faith. And with Col. ii. 11. 
In whom also ye are circumcised with the 
circumcision made without hands, in 
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh 
by the circumcision of Christ; Ver. 12. 
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye 
are risen with him through the faith of 
the operation of God, who hath raised him 
from the dead. And with Acts ii. 38. 
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be 
baptized every one of you in the name of 
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and 
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
Ver. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to 
your children, and to all that are afar off, 
even as many as the Lord our God shall 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



257 



Q. 167. How is our baptism to be improved by us ? 

A. The needful but much neglected duty of improving 
our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, 
especially in the time of temptation, and when we are 
present at the administration of it to others ; p by serious 
and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the 
ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and 
benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow 
made therein ; q by being humbled for our sinful defilement, 
our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of 
baptism, and our engagements ; r by growing up to assur- 
ance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to 
us in that sacrament ; s by drawing strength from the death 

call. And with Rom. iv. 11. And he with Am, that the body of 'sin might be destroy- 
received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the ed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 
righteousness of the faith which he had yet Ver. 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves 
being uncirciimcised: that he might be the to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God 
father of all them that believe, though they through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
be not circumcised; that righteousness i Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many 
might be imputed unto them also : Ver. 12. of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ 
And the father of circumcision to them who were baptized into his death ? Ver. 4. 
are not of the circumcision only, but who also Therefore we are buried ivith him by baptism 
walk in the steps of that faith of our father into death; that like as Christ was raised up 
Abraham, which he had being yet uncircum- from the dead by the glory of the Father, 
cised. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving even so we also should walk in newness of life, 
husband is sanctified by the wife, and the Ver. 5. For if we have been planted 
unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: together in the likeness of his death, we 
else were your children unclean; but now are shall be also in the likeness of his resurrec- 
ted/ holy. Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye there- tion. 

fore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in r 1 Cor. i. 11. For it hath been declared 

the name of the Father, and of the Son, unto me of you, my brethren, by them which 

and of the Holy Ghost. Luke xviii. 15. are of the house of Chloe, that there are 

And they brought unto him also infants, that contentions among you. Ver. 12. Now this 

he would touch them : but when his disci- I say, that every one of you saith, I am of 

pies saw it, they rebuked them. Ver. 16. Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, 

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, and I of Christ. Ver. 13. Is Christ 

Suffer little children to come unto me, and for- divided? was Paul crucified for you? or 

bid them not : for of such is the kingdom of were ye baptized in the name of Paul 9 

God. Rom. xi. 16. I 'or if the first fruit be Horn. vi. 2. God forbid. How shall we, that 

holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root be are dead to sin, live any longer therein ? 

holy, so are the branches. Ver. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us 

167. p Col. ii. 11. In whom also ye are as were baptized into Jesus Christ were 

circumcised with the circumcision made baptized into his death ? 

without hands, in putting off the body of the s Rom. iv. 11 . And he received the sign 

sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of 

Ver. 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein the faith which he had yet being uncircum- 

also ye are risen with him through the faith cised : that he might be the father of all them 

of the operation of God, who hath raised that believe, though they be not circumcised; 

him from the dead. Rom. vi. 4. Therefore that righteousness might be imputed unto them 

we are buried with him by baptism into death; also: Ver. 12. And the father of circum- 

that like as Christ was raised up from the cision to them who are not of the circum- 

dead, by the glory of the Father, even so we cision only, but who also walk in the steps 

also should walk in newness of life. Ver. 6. of that faith of our father Abraham, which 

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified he had being yet uncircumcised. 1 Pet. 

R 



253 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for 
the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace ; 1 and by 
endeavouring to live by faith, v to have our conversation 
in holiness and righteousness/ as those that have therein 
given up their names to Christ ; x and to walk in brotherly 
love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one 
body. y 

Q. 168. What is the Lord's supper ? 

A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament of the ~New Testa- 
ment, 2 wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine 
according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death 
is shewed forth; and they that worthily communicate 
feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourish- 
ment and growth in grace ; a have their union and com- 
munion with him confirmed ; b testify and renew their 
thankfulness, and engagement to God/ and their mutual 



iii, 21 . The like figure whereunto even 
baptism doth also now save us, (not the 
putting away of the filth of the flesh, 
but the answer of a good conscience to- 
ward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ. 

1 Rom. vi. 3, 4, 5. [See above in <*.] 

v Gal. iii. 26. For ye are all the children 
of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Ver. 27. 
For as many of you as have been baptized 
into Christ have put on Christ. 

w Rom. vi. 22. But now, being made free 
from sin, and become servants to God, ye 
have your fruit unto holiness, and the end 
everlasting life. 

x Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, 
Repent, and be baptized every one of you in 
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission 
of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the 
Holy Ghost. 

y 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are 
we all baptized into one body, whether we be 
Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or 
free ; and have been all made to drink into 
one Spirit. Ver. 25. That there should be 
no schism in the body; but that the members 
should have the same care one for another. 
Ver. 26. And whether one member suffer, 
all the members suffer with it; or one mem- 
ber be honoured, all the members rejoice with 
it. Ver. 27. Now ye are the body of Christ, 
and members in particular. 

168. z Luke xxii. 20. Likewise also the 
cup after supper, saying, This cup is the 
new testament in my blood, which is shed 
for you. 

"Matt.xxvi, 26. Andasthey were eating, 



Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake 
it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, 
Take, eat: this is my body. Ver. 27. And 
he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave 
it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: Ver. 
28. For this is my blood of the new testament, 
which is shed for many for the remission 
of sins. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For 1 have received 
of the Lord that which also 1 delivered unto 
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night 
in which he was betrayed, took bread: Ver. 
24. And, when he had given thanks, he 
brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, 
which is broken for you: this do in remem- 
brance of me. Ver. 25. After the same 
manner also he took the cup, when he had 
supped, saying, This cup is the new testa- 
ment in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye 
drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. 
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink 
this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he 
come. 

b 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not the communion of the 
blood of Christ? the bread which we break, 
is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 
c 1 Cor. xi. 24. [See above in a .] 
a 1 Cor. x. 14. Wherefore, my dearly be- 
loved, flee from idolatry. Ver. 15. I speak 
as to wise men ; judge ye what I say. Ver. 
16, The cup of blessing which we bless, is 
it not the communion of the blood of Christ? 
the bread which we break, is it not the 
communion of the body of Christ? Ver. 21. 
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and 
the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of 
the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



259 



love and fellowship each with other, as members of the 
same mystical body. 6 

Q. 169. How hath Christ appointed hread and wine 
to he given and received in the sacrament of the Lord's 
supper ? 

A. Christ hath appointed the ministers of his word, in 
the administration of this sacrament of the Lord's supper, 
to set apart the bread and wine from common use, by the 
word of institution, thanksgiving, and prayer ; to take and 
break the bread, and to give both the bread and the wine 
to the communicants : who are, by the same appointment, 
to take and eat the bread, and to drink the wine, in thank- 
ful remembrance that the body of Christ was broken and 
given, and his blood shed, for them/ 

Q. 170. How do they that worthily communicate in the 
Lord's supper feed upon the body and blood of Christ 
therein ? 

A, As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally 
or carnally present in, with, or under the bread and wine 
in the Lord's supper/ and yet are spiritually present to 
the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really than the 
elements themselves are to their outward senses ; h so they 
that worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord's 
supper, do therein feed upon the body and blood of Christ, 
not after a corporal and carnal, but in a spiritual manner ; 
yet truly and really/ while by faith they receive and apply 

e 1 Cor. x. 17. For we, being many, are things, which God hath spoken by the mouth 

one bread, and one body: for we are all par- of all his holy prophets since the world 

takers of that one bread. began. 

169. fl Cor. xi. 23,24. [See before under a .] nMatt.xxvi.26. And as they were eating, 
Matt. xxvi. 26,27,28. [See before at a.] Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake 
Mark xiv. 22. And as they did eat, Jesus it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, 
took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and Take, eat: this is my body. Ver. 28. For 
gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is this is my blood of the new testament, which 
my body. Ver. 23. And he took the cup, and is shed for many for the remission of 
when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: sins. 

and they all drank of it. Ver. 24. And he i 1 Cor. xi. 24. And, when he had given 

said unto them, This is my blood of the thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; 

new testament, which is shed for many, this is my body, which is broken for you : 

Luke xxii. 19. And he took bread, and gave this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. 

thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, After the same manner also he took the 

saying, This is my body, which is given cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup 

for you: this do in remembrance of me. Ver. is the new testament in my blood: this do 

20. Likewise also the cup after supper, ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance 

saying, This cup is the new testament in my of me. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat 

blood, which is shed for you. this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew 

170. g Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven must the Lord's death till he come. Ver, 27. 
receive until the times of restitution of all Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, 



260 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his 
death.* 

Q. 171. How are they that receive the sacrament of 
the Lord's supper to prepare themselves before they come 
unto it ? 

A. They that receive the sacrament of the Lord's 
supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves there- 
unto, by examining themselves 1 of their being in Christ, m 
of their sins and wants ; n of the truth and measure of 
their knowledge, faith, p repentance ; q love to God and 
the brethren/ charity to all men/ forgiving those that 
have done them wrong ; 4 of their desires after Christ/ and 



and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, 
shall be guilty of the body and blood of the 
Lord. Ver. 28. But let a man examine 
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, 
and drink of that cup. Ver. 29. For he 
that eatethanddrinketh unworthily, eateth 
and drinketh damnation to himself, not dis- 
cerning the Lord's body. 

k 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing 
which we bless, is it not the communion of 
the blood of Christ? the bread which we 
break, is it not the communion of the body 
of Christ? 

171. 1 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man ex- 
amine himself and so let him eat of that 
bread, and drink of that cup. 

m 2Cor. xiii. 5. Examineyourselves,ichether 
ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: 
know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus 
Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 

n 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the old 
leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye 
are unleavened. For even Christ our 
passover is sacrificed for us. Compared 
with Exod. xii. 15. Seven days shall ye eat 
unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall 
put away leaven out of your houses: for who- 
soever eateth leavened bread, from the first 
day until the seventh day, that soul shall 
be cut off from Israel. 

1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and 
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 
damnation to himself, not discerning the 
Lord's body. 

p 1 Cor. xiii. 5. [See above in letter m .] 
Matt. xxvi. 28. For this is my blood of the 
new testament, which is shed for many for 
the remission of sins. 

i Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the 
house of David, and upon the inhabitants 
of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of sup- 
plications; and they shall lookuponme whom 
they have pierced, and they shall mourn for 



him, as one mourneth for his only son, and 
shall be in bitterness for him, as one that 
is in bitterness for his first-born. 1 Cor. 
xi. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we 
should not be judged. 

r 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not the communion of the blood 
of Christ? the bread which we break, is it 
not the communion of the body of Christ? 
Ver. 17. For we, being many, are one bread, 
and one body: for we are all partakers of 
that one bread. Acts ii. 46. And they, 
continuing daily with one accord in the 
temple, and breaking bread from house to 
house, did eat their meat with gladness 
and singleness of heart, Ver. 47. Praising 
God, and having favour with all the people. 
And the Lord added to the church daily 
such as should be saved. 

s 1 Cor. v. 8. Therefore let us keep the 
feast, not with old leaven, neither with the 
leaven of malice and icickedness; but with 
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 
1 Cor. xi. 18. For first of all, when ye come 
together in the church, I hear that there be 
divisions among you ; and I partly believe 
it. Ver. 20. When ye come together there- 
fore into one place, this is not to eat the 
Lord's supper. 

t Matt. v. 23. Therefore, if thou bring 
thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest 
that thy brother hath ought against thee ; 
Ver. 24. Leave there thy gift before the 
altar, and go thy way ; first be reconciled to 
thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 

v Tsa. lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, 
come ye to the waters, and he that hath no 
money : come ye, buy and eat : yea, come, 
buy wine and milk without money, and 
without price. John vii. 37. In the last 
day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood 
and cried, saying, Lfany man thirst, let him 
come unto me, and drink. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



261 



of their new obedience ; w and by renewing the exercise of 
these graces,* by serious meditation/ and fervent prayer. 2 

Q. 172. May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or 
of his due preparation, come to the Lord's supper f 

A. One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his 
due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord's supper, 
may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet 
assured thereof ; a and in God's account hath it, if he be 
duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, b 



* 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the old 
leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye 
are unleavened. For even Christ our pass- 
over is sacrificed for us: Ver. 8- Therefore, 
let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither 
with the leaven of malice and wickedness ; 
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity 
and truth. 

x 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the same manner 
also he took the cup, when he had supped, 
saying, This cup is the new testament in 
my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, 
in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as 
often as ye eat this bread, and drink this 
cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 
Ver. 28. But let a man examine himself, and 
so let him eat of that bread, and drink 
of that cup. Heb. x. 21. And having an 
high priest over the house of God ; Ver. 
22. Let us draw near with a true heart, in 
full assurance of faith, having our hearts 
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our 
bodies washed with pure water. Ver. 24. 
And let us consider one another, to provoke 
unto love and to good works. Ps. xxvi. 6. 
lwill wash mine hands in innocency: so will 
J compass thine altar, Lord. 

7 1 Cor. xi. 24. And, when he had given 
thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat ; 
this is my body, which is broken for you : 
this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. 
After the same manner also he took the 
cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup 
is the new testament in my blood : this do 
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 

z 2 Chron. xxx. 18. For a multitude of 
the people, even many of Ephraim, and 
Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not 
cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the 
passover otherwise than it was written : but 
Eezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good 
Lord pardon every one Ver. 19. That 
prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord 
God of his fathers, thoughhe be not cleansed 
according to the purification of the sanc- 
tuary. Matt. xxvi. 26. And as they were 
eating, Jeswstook bread, and blessed it, and 



brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and 
said, Take, eat ; this is my body. 

172 a Isa. 1. 10. Who is among you that 
feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice 
of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and 
hath no light ? let him trust in the name of 
the Lord, and stay upon his God. 1 John 
v. 13. These things have I written unto 
you that believe on the name of the Son of 
God, that ye may know that ye have eternal 
life, and that ye may believe on the name of 
the Son of God. Ps. lxxxviii. throughout. 
Ps. lxxvii. to Verse 12. Ver. 1. 1 cried unto 
God with my voice, even unto God with 
my voice ; and he gave ear unto me. Ver. 
2. In the day of my trouble I sought the 
Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased 
not: my soul refused to be comforted. 
Ver. 3. 1 remembered God, and was troubled: 
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. 
Selah. Ver. 4. Thou holdest mine eyes 
waking: I am so troubled that I cannot 
speak, etc. Ver. 7. Will the Lord cast off 
for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 
Ver. 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? 
doth his promise fail for evermore? Ver. 9. 
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he 
in anger shut up his tender mercies? Ver. 
10. And I said, This is my infirmity : but 
I will remember the years of the right 
hand of the Most High. Jonah ii. 4. 
Then I said, i" am cast out of thy sight; yet 
I will look again toward thy holy temple. 
Ver. 7. When my soul fainted within me I 
remembered the Lord; and my prayer 
came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. 

b Isa. liv. 7. For a small moment have I 
forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I 
gather thee. Ver. 8. In a little wrath / 
hid my face from thee for a moment ; but 
with everlasting kindness will I have mercy 
on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer. Ver. 
9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto 
me : for as I have sworn that the waters 
of Noah should no more go over the earth ; 
so have I sworn that I would not be wroth 
with thee, nor rebuke thee. Ver. 10. For 



232 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ/ and to 
depart from iniquity : d in which case (because promises 
are made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief 
even of weak and doubting Christians 6 ) he is to bewail 
his unbelief/ and labour to have his doubts resolved ; § and, 
so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's supper, 
that he may be further strengthened. 11 

Q e 173. May any who profess the faith, and desire to 
come to the Lord's supper, be kept from it ? 

A. Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous, 



the mountains shall depart, and the hills 
be removed ; hut my kindness shall not de- 
part from thee, neither shall the covenant of 
my peace be removed, saith the Lord that 
hath mercy on thee. Matt. v. 3. Blessed 
are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the king- 
dom of heaven. Ver. 4. Blessed are they 
that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 
Ps. xxxi. 22. For / said in my haste, I am 
cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless 
thou heardest the voice of my supplications 
when I cried unto thee. Ps. lxxiii. 13. 
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and 
washed my hands in innocency. Ver. 22. 
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a 
beast before thee. Ver. 23. Nevertheless I 
am continually with thee; thou hast holden me 
by my right hand. 

Phil. iii. 8. Yea doubtless, and I count 
all things but loss for the excellency of the 
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord : for 
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 
and do count them but dung, that I may win 
Christ, Ver. 9. And be found in him, not 
having mine own righteousness, which is 
of the law, but that which is through the 
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is 
of God by faith. Ps. x. 17. Lord, thou 
hast heard, the desire of the humble: thou 
wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause 
thine ear to hear. *Ps. xlii. 1. As the 
hart panteth after the water-brooks, so 
panteth my soul after thee, God. Ver. 2. 
My soul thirsteth for Cod, for the living 
God : when shall I come and appear before 
God ? Ver. 5. Why art thou cast down, 
my soul? and why art thou disquieted in 
me ? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise 
him for the help of his countenance. Ver. 
11. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? 
and why art thou disquieted within me ? 
hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, 
who is the health of my countenance, and 
my God. 

d 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless the found- 
ation of God standeth sure, having this 



seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. 
And, Let every one that nameth the name of 
Christ depart from iniquity. Isa. 1. 10. 
Who is among you that fear eth the Lord, that 
obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh 
in darkness, and hath no light ? let him 
trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon 
his God. Ps. lxvi. 18. If L regard iniquity 
in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Ver. 

19. But verily God hath heard me; he hath 
attended to the voice of my prayer. Ver. 

20. Blessed be God, which hath not turned 
away my prayer, nor his mercy from me. 

e Isa. xl. 11. He shall feed his flock like 
a shepherd ; he shall gather the lambs with 
his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and 
shall gently lead those that are with young. 
Ver. 29. He giveth power to the faint; and 
to them that have no might he increaseth 
strength. Ver. 31. But they that wait upon 
the Lord shall renew their strength; they 
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they 
shall run, and not be weary; and they 
shall walk, and not faint. Matt. xi. 28. 
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are 
heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matt, 
xii. 20. A bruised reed shall he not break, 
and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he 
send forth judgment unto victory. Matt, 
xxvi. 28. For this is my blood of the new 
testament, which is shed for many for the 
remission of sins. 

f Mark ix. 24. And straightway the 
father of the child cried out, and said with 
tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine un- 
belief. 

g Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, 
they were pricked in their heart, and said 
unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, 
Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 
xvi. 30. And brought them out, and said, 
Sirs, what must L do to be saved? 

h Bom. iv. 11. And he received the sign 
of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of 
the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: 
that he might be the father of all them 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



263 



notwithstanding their profession of the faith, and desire 
to come to the Lord's supper, may and ought to be kept 
from that sacrament, by the power which Christ hath left 
in his church, 1 until they receive instruction, and manifest 
their reformation. 1 " 

Q. 174. What is required of them that receive the sacra- 
ment of the Lord's supper in the time of the administration 
of it? 

A. It is required of them that receive the sacrament 
of the Lord's supper, that, during the time of the ad- 
ministration of it, with all holy reverence and atten- 
tion they wait upon God in that ordinance, 1 diligently 
observe the sacramental elements and actions, 01 needfully 
discern the Lord's body, n and affectionately meditate on 
his death and sufferings, and thereby stir up themselves 
to a vigorous exercise of their graces ; p in judging theni- 



that "believe, though they be not circum- 
cised; that righteousness might be imputed 
unto them also. 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a 
man examine himself, and so let him eat of 
that bread, and drink of that cup. 

173. 4 1 Cor. xi. 27 to the end. Where- 
fore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink 
this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be 
guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 
Ver. 28. But let a man examine himself, and 
so let him eat of that bread, and drink of 
that cup. Ver. 29. For he that eateth and 
drink eth unworthily, eateth and drinketh 
damnation to himself, not discerning the 
Lord's body. Ver. 30. For this cause many 
are weak and sickly among you, and many 
sleep. Ver. 31. For if we would judge 
ourselves, we should not be judged, etc. to 
the end of the Chapter. Compared with 
Matt. vii. 6. Give not that which is holy 
unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls 
before swine, lest they trample them under 
their feet, and turn again and rend you. 
And with 1 Cor. Chapter v. to the end. 
And with Jude, Ver. 23. And others save 
with fear, pulling them out of the fire; 
hating even the garment spotted by the 
flesh. And with 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands 
suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of 
other men's sins: keep thyself pure. 

* 2 Cor. ii. 7. So that contrariwise ye 
ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, 
lest perhaps such an one should be swallowed 
up with over-much sorrow. 

174. 1 Lev. x. 3. Then Moses said unto 
Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, 
saying, / will be sanctified in them that come 



nigh me, and before all the people I will be 
glorified. Heb. xii. 28. Wherefore, we 
receiving a kingdom which cannot be 
moved, let us have grace, whereby we may 
serve God acceptably with reverence and godly 
fear. Ps. v. 7. But as for me, I will come 
into thy house in the multitude of thy 
mercy ; and in thy fear will L vjorship to- 
ward thy holy temple. 1 Cor. xi. 17. Now 
in this that I declare unto you I praise you 
not, that ye come together not for the better, 
but for the worse. Ver. 26. For as often 
as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, 
ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 
Ver. 27. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat 
this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, 
unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and 
blood of the Lord. 

m Exod. xxiv. 8. And Moses took the 
blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and 
said, Behold the blood of the covenant, 
which the Lord hath made with you con- 
cerning all these words. Compared with 
Matt. xxvi. 28. For this is my blood of the 
new testament, which is shed for many for 
the remission of sins. 

n 1 Cor. xi. 29. For he that eateth and 
drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh 
damnation to himself, not discerning the 
Lord's body. 

o Luke xxii. 19. And he took bread 
and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave 
unto them, saying, This is my body, which 
is given for you : this do in remembrance 
of me. 

p 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat 
this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew 



264 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



selves,* 1 and sorrowing for sin ; r in earnest hungering and 
thirsting after Christ/ feeding on him by faith/ receiving 

of his fulness/ trusting in his merits/ rejoicing in his love/ 

giving thanks for his grace ; y in renewing of their covenant 
with G-od/ and love to all the saints. a 

Q. 175. What is the duty of Christians, after they have 
received the sacrament of the Lord's supper f 

A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the 
sacrament of the Lord's supper, is seriously to consider how 
they have behaved themselves therein, and with what success/ 

if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it, c 

the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. x. 3. praise thee with joyful lips. 2 Chron. xxx. 

And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 21. And the children of Israel, that were 

Ver. 4. And did all drink the same spiritual present at Jerusalem, kept the feast of un- 

drink; (for they drank of that spiritual leavened bread seven days with great gladness: 

Rock that followed them ; and that Rock and the Levites and the priests praised the 

was Christ: ) Ver. 5. But with many of Lord day by day, singing with loud instru- 

them God was not well pleased; for they ments unto the Lord. 

were overthrown in the wilderness. Ver. y Ps. xxii. 26. The meek shall eat and be 

11. Now all these things happened unto them satisfied; they shall praise the Lord that seek 

for ensamples: and they are written for him: your heart shall live for ever, 

our admonition, upon whom the ends of z Jer. 1. 5. They shall ask the way to 

the world are come. Ver. 14. Wherefore, Zion, with their faces thitherward, saying, 

my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in 

1 1 Cor. xi. 31. For if we would judge a perpetual covenant that shall not be for- 

ourselves, we should not be judged. gotten. Ps. 1. 5. Gather my saints together 

r Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon unto me; those that have made a covenant 

the house of David, and upon the in- with me by sacrifice. 

habitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace a Acts ii. 42. And they continued sted- 

and of supplications ; and they shall look fastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, 

upon me whom they have pierced, and they and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for 175. b Ps. xxviii. 7. The Lord is my 

his only son, and shall be in bitterness for strength and my shield; my heart trusted 

him, as one that is in bitterness for his in him, and I am helped : therefore my heart 

first-born. greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I 

8 Rev. xxii. 17. And the Spirit and the praise him. Ps. lxxxv. 8. I will hear what 

bride say, Come. And let him that God the Lord will speak: for he will speak 

heareth say, Come. And let him that is peace unto his people, and to his saints: 

athirst come. And whosoever will, let but let them not turn again to folly. 1 Cor. 

him take the water of life freely. xi. 17. Now in this that I declare unto you 

* John vi. 35. And Jesus said unto I praise you not, that ye come together not 

them, / am the bread of life : he that for the better, but for the worse. Ver. 30. 

cometh to me shall never hunger ; and he For this cause many are weak and sickly 

that believeth on me shall never thirst. among you, and many sleep. Ver. 31. For 

v John i. 16. And of his fulness have if we would judge ourselves, we should not 

all we received, and grace for grace. be judged. 

w Phil. i. 16. And be found in him, c 2 Chron. xxx. 21, 22, 23, 25, 26. Ver. 
not having mine own righteousness, which 21. And the children of Israel, that were 
is of the law, but that which is through present at Jerusalem, kept the feast of un- 
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which leavened bread seven days with great glad- 
is of God by faith, ness: and the Levites and the priests 

x Ps. lxiii. 4. Thus will T bless thee while praised the Lord day by day, singing with 

Tlive : I will lift up my hands in thy name, loud instruments unto the Lord, etc. Acts 

Ver. 5. My soul shall be satisfied as with ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the 

marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



265 



beg the continuance of it/ watch against relapses, 6 fulfil 
their vows/ and encourage themselves to a frequent at- 
tendance on that ordinance : s but if they find no present 
benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and 
carriage at, the sacrament ; h in both which, if they can 
approve themselves to God and their own consciences, 
they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time : 1 but, 



breaking of bread, and in pray ers. Ver. 46. 
And they, continuing daily with one accord 
in the temple, and breaking bread from 
house to house, did eat their meat with 
gladness and singleness of heart, Ver. 47. 
Praising God, and having favour with all 
the people, etc. 

d Ps. xxxvi. 10. continue thy loving- 
kindness unto them that know thee ; and 
thy righteousness to the upright in heart. 
Cant. iii. 4. It was but a little that I passed 
from them, but I found him whom my 
soul loveth : I held him, and would not let 
him go, until I had brought him into my 
mother's house, and into the chamber of 
her that conceived me. 1 Chron. xxix. 18. 
Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of 
Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the 
imagination of the thoughts of the heart of 
thy people, and prepare their heart unto 
thee. 

e 1 Cor. x. 3. And did all eat the same 
spiritual meat ; Ver. 4. And did all drink 
the same spiritual drink; (for they drank 
of that spiritual Rock that followed them ; 
and that Rock was Christ:) Ver. 5. But 
with many of them God was not well pleased; 
for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 
Ver. 12. Wherefore, let him that thinketh he 
standeth take heed lest he fall. 

f Ps. 1. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving; 
and pay thy vows unto the most High. 

e 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the same manner 
also he took the cup, when he had supped, 
saying, This cup is the new testament in 
my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, 
in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as 
often as ye eat this bread, and drink this 
cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he 
come. Acts ii. 42. And they continued 
stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fel- 
lowship, and in breaking of bread, and in 
prayers. Ver. 46. And they, continuing 
daily with one accord in the temple, and 
breaking bread from house to house, did 
eat their meat with gladness and single- 
ness of heart. 

h * Cant. v. 1. I am come into my gar- 
den, my sister, my spouse : I have gathered 
my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten 



my honey-comb with my honey; I have 
drunk my wine with my milk: eat, 
friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, 
beloved. Ver. 2. / sleep, but my heart 
waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that 
knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, 
my love, my dove, my undefiled : for my 
head is filled with dew, and my locks with 
the drops of the night. Ver. 3. / have 
put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have 
washed my feet; how shall I defile them? 
Ver. 4. My beloved put in his hand by the 
hole of the door, and my bowels were 
moved for him. Ver. 5, I rose up to open 
to my beloved; and my hands dropped with 
myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling 
myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. Ver. 
6. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved 
had withdrawn himself, and was gone : my 
soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but 
I could not find him; I called him, but he 
gave me no answer. Eccles. v. 1. Keep thy 
foot when thou goest to the house of God, and 
be more ready to hear, than to give the 
sacrifice of fools : for they consider not that 
they do evil. Ver. 2. Be not rash with thy 
mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty 
to utter any thing before God : for God is 
in heaven, and thou upon earth : therefore 
let thy words be few. Ver. 3. For a 
dream cometh through the multitude of 
business ; and a fool's voice is known by 
multitude of words. Ver. 4. When thou 
vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; 
for he hath no pleasure in fools : pay that 
which thou hast vowed. Ver. 5. Better 
is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that 
thou shouldest vow and not pay. Ver. 6. 
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to 
sin; neither say thou before the angel, that 
it was an error : wherefore should God be 
angry at thy voice, and destroy the work 
of thine hands ? 

i Ps. cxxiii. 1. Unto thee lift I up mine 
eyes, thou that dwellest in the heavens. 
* Ver. 2. Behold, as the eyes of servants 
look unto the hand of their masters, and as 
the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her 
mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our 
God, until that he have mercy upon us. 



266 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



in either, they are 
it afterwards with 



to be 
more 



if they see they have failed 
humbled, k and to attend upon 
care and diligence. 1 

Q. 176. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the 
Lord's supper agree ? 

A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper 
agree, in that the author of both is God ; m the spiritual part 
of both is Christ and his benefits ; n both are seals of the same 
covenant, are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel, 



Ps. xlii. 5. "Why art thou cast down, my 
soul ? and why art thou disquieted in me ? 
hope thou in God; for 1 shall yet praise him 
for the help of his countenance. Ver. 8. 
Yet the Lord will command his loving kind- 
ness in the day-time, and in the night his 
song shall be with me, and my prayer unto 
the God of my life. Ps. xliii. 3. send 
out thy light and thy truth : let them lead 
me, let them bring me unto thy holy hilL 
and to thy tabernacles. Yer. 4. Then will 
I go unto the altar of God, unto God my 
exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I 
praise thee, God, my God. Ver. 5. Why 
art thou cast down, my soul ? and why 
art thou disquieted within me? hope in 
God; for I shall yet praise him, who is 
the health of my countenance, and my 
God. 

k 2 Chron. xxx. 18. For a multitude of 
the people, even many of Ephraim, and 
Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not 
cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the pass- 
over otherwise than it was written: but 
Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good 
Lord pardon every one Ver. 19. That pre- 
pareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God 
of his fathers, though he be not cleansed ac- 
cording to the purification of the sanctuary. 
Isa. i. 16. Wash you, make you clean; put 
away the evil of your doings from before 
mine eyes; cease to do evil. Ver. 18. 
Come now, and let us reason together, saith 
the Lord : Though your sins be as scarlet, 
they shall be as white as snow: though 
they be red like crimson, they shall be as 
wool. 

1 2 Cor. viL 11. For, behold, this self- 
same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly 
sort, ivhat carefulness it wrought in you, yea, 
what clearing of yourselves, yea, what 
indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehe- 
ment desire, yea, ichat zeal, yea, what re- 
venge! In all things ye have approved 
yourselves to be clear in this matter. 1 
Chron. xv. 12. And (David) said unto them. 
Te are the chief of the fathers of the Le- 



vites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your 
brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of 
the Lord God of Israel unto the place that 
I have prepared for it. Ver. 13. For be- 
cause ye did it not at the first, the Lord our 
God made a breach upon us, for that we 
sought him not after the due order. Ver. 14. 
So the priests and the Levites sanctified them- 
selves to bring up the ark of the Lord God 
of Israel. 

176. m Matt, xxviil 19. Go ye therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For / 
have received of the Lord that zvhich also L 
delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the 
same night in which he was betrayed, took 
bread. 

n Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many 
of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ 
were baptized into his death? Ver. 4. There- 
fore we are buried with him by baptism 
into death; that like as Christ was raised 
up from the dead by the glory of the 
Father, even so we also shoidd walk in 
neioness of life. 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of 
blessing which we bless, is it not the com- 
munion of the blood of Christ? the bread 
which we break, is it not the communion of 
the body of Clirist? 

Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign 
of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness 
of the faith which he had yet being uscir- 
cumcised : that he might be the father of 
all them that believe, though they be not 
circumcised ; that righteousness might be 
imputed unto them also. Compared with 
Col. ii. 12. Buried with him in baptism, 
wherein also ye are risen with him through 
the faith of the operation of God, who 
hath raised him from the dead. Matt, 
xxvi 27. And he took the cup, and 
gave thanks, and gave it to them, say- 
ing, Drink ye all of it : Ver. 28. For this 
is my blood of the new testament, which 
is shed for many for the remission of 
sins. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



267 



and by none other ; p and to be continued in the church of 
Christ until his second coming^ 

Q. 177. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the 
Lord's supper differ ? 

A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper 
differ, in that baptism is to be administered but once, with 
water, to be a sign and seal of our regeneration and in- 
grafting into Christ/ and that even to infants ; s whereas 
the Lord's supper is to be administered often, in the 
elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit 
Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul/ and to con- 
firm our continuance and growth in him/ and that only 
to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves.^ 



p John i. 33. And I knew him not: but 

he that sent me to baptize with water, the 
same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt 
see the Spirit descending, and remaining 
on him, the same is he which baptizeth 
with the Holy Ghost. Matt, xxviii. 19. 
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, bap- 
tizing them in the name of the Father, and 
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 
xi. 23. For / have received of the Lord that 
which also I delivered unto you, That the 
Lord Jesus, the same night in which he 
was betrayed, took bread. 1 Cor. iv. 1. 
Let a man so account of us as of the mini- 
sters of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries 
of God. Heb. v. 4. And nomantaketh this 
honour unto himself, but he that is called of 
God, as was Aaron. 

1 Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name 
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
Holy Ghost; Ver. 20. Teaching them to 
observe all things whatsoever I have com- 
manded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, 
even unto the end of the world. Amen. 1 
Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this 
bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the 
Lord's death till he come. 

177. r Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize 
you loith water unto repentance: but he that 
cometh after me is mightier than I, whose 
shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall 
baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with 
fire. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of right- 
eousness which we have done, but ac- 
cording to his mercy he saved us, by the 
washing of regeneration, and renewing of 
the Holy Ghost. Gal. iii. 27. For as many 
of you as have been baptized into Christ have 
put on Christ, 

s Gen. xvii. 7. And / will establish my 



covenant between me and thee, and thy seed 
after thee, in their generations, for an ever- 
lasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and 
to thy seed after thee. Ver. 9. And God 
said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my 
covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after 
thee, in their generations. Acts ii. 38. 
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and 
be baptized every one of you in the name 
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, 
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 
Ghost. Ver. 39. For the promise is unto 
you, and to your children, and to all that 
are afar off, even as many as the Lord our 
God shall call. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the 
unbelieving husband is sanctified by the 
wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified 
by the husband : else were your children un- 
clean; but now are they holy. 

1 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of 
the Lord that which also I delivered unto 
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night 
in which he was betrayed, took bread: Ver. 
24. And, when he had given thanks, he 
brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my 
body, which is broken for you : this do in 
remembrance of me. Ver. 25. After the 
same manner also he took the cup, when 
he had supped, saying, This cup is the new 
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft 
as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 
26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and 
drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death 
till he come. 

v 1 Cor. x, 16. The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not the communion of the 
blood of Christ? the bread which we break, 
is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 

w 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine 
himself, and so let him eat of that bread, 
and drink of that cup, Ver. 29. For he 



268 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 
9 



Q. 178. What is prayer 
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God/ 
in the name of Christ/ by the help of his Spirit; 2 wit! 
confession of our sins, a and thankful acknowledgment of his 
mercies. b 

Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God only ? 

A, God only being able to search the hearts/ hear 
the requests/ pardon the sins/ and fulfil the desires of 
all; f and only to be believed in/ and worshipped with 
religious worship ; h prayer, which is a special part thereof/ 
is to be made by all to him alone/ and to none other. 1 

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ ? 

A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to 
his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask 
mercy for his sake; m not by bare mentioning of his 



that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth 
and drinketh damnation to himself, not dis- 
cerning the Lord's body. 

178. * p s . Mi. 8. Trust in him at all 
times ; ye people, pour out your heart before 
him : God is a refuge for us. Selah. 

y John xvi. 23. And in that day ye shall 
ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the 
Father in my name., he will give it you. 

z Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also 
helpeth our infirmities: for we know not 
what we should pray for as we ought; 
but the Spirit itself mdketh intercession for 
us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 

a Ps. xxxii. 5. I acknowledge my sin unto 
thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. i" 
said, I will confess my transgressions unto 
the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity 
of my sin. Selah. Ver. 6. For this shall 
every one that is godly pray unto thee in a 
time when thou mayest be found. Dan. 
ix. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, 
and made my confession, and said, Lord, 
the great and dreadful God, etc. 

b Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing : but 
in every thing by prayer and supplication, 
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
known unto God. 

179. c 1 Kings viii. 39. Then hear thou 
in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, 
and do, and give to every man according 
to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for 
thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of 
all the children of men.) Acts i. 24. And 
they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which 
knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether 
of these two thou hast chosen. Rom. viii. 
27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth 



what is the mind of the Spirit, because 
he maketh intercession for the saints ac- 
cording to the will of God. 

d Ps. lxv. 2. thou that hearest prayer, 
unto thee shall all flesh come. 

e Micah vii. 18. Who is a Godlike unto 
thee, that par doneth iniquity, and passeth by 
the transgression of the remnant of his 
heritage? he retaineth not his anger for 
ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 

f Ps. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto 
all them that call upon him, to all that 
call upon him in truth. Ver. 19. He will 
fulfil the desire of them that fear him : he also 
will hear their cry, and will save them. 

g Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call 
on him in whom they have not believed? 

h Matt. iv. 10. Then saith Jesus unto 
him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is 
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy 
God, and him only shalt thou serve. 

i 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of God 
which is at Corinth, to them that are 
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be 
saints, with all that in every place call upon 
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both 
theirs and ours. 

k Ps. 1. 15. And call upon me in the day 
of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou 
shalt glorify me. 

1 Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call 
on him in whom they have not believed? 

180. m John xiv. 13. And whatsoever 
ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, 
that the Father may be glorified in the 
Son. Ver. 14. If ye shall ask any thing 
in my name, I will do it. John xvi. 24. 
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name : 
ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



269 



name, n but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and 
our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, 
from Christ and his mediation. 

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ ? 

A, The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God 
by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no 
access into his presence without a mediator ; p and there 
being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that 
glorious work but Christ alone, q we are to pray in no other 
name but his only/ 

Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray ? 

A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the 
Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand 
both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made ; 
and by working and quickening in our hearts (although 
not in all persons, nor at all times, in the same measure) 
those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are re- 
quisite for the right performance of that duty. 8 



may be full. Dan. ix. 17. Now therefore, 
our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, 
and his supplications, and cause thy face 
to shine upon thy sanctuary that is deso- 
late, for the Lord's sake. 

n Matt. vii. 21. Not every one that saith 
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the 
kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the 
will of my Father which is in heaven. 

o Heb. iv. 14. Seeing then that we have a 
great high priest, that is passed into the 
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold 
fast our profession. Ver. 15. For we have 
not an high priest which cannot be touched 
with the feeling of our infirmities; but 
was in all points tempted like as we are, 
yet without sin. Ver. 16. Let us therefore 
come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we 
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help 
in time of need. 1 John v. 13. These 
things have I written unto you that believe 
on the name of the Son of God, that ye 
may know that ye have eternal life, and 
that ye may believe on the name of the Son of 
God. Ver. 14. And this is the confidence 
that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing 
according to his will, he heareth us. Ver. 
15. And if we know that he hear us, 
whatsoever we ask, we know that we have 
the petitions that we desired of him. 

181. p John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto 
him, I am the way, and the truth, and the 
life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by 
me. Isa. lix. 2. But your iniquities have 



separated between you and your God, and 
your sins have hid his face from you, that 
he will not hear. Eph. iii. 12. In whom 
we have boldness and access with confidence 
by the faith of him. 

i John vi. 27. Labour not for the meat 
which perisheth, but for that meat which 
endureth unto everlasting life, which the 
Son of man shall give unto you : for him 
hath God the Father sealed. Heb. vii. 25. 
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the 
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing 
he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 
Ver. 26. For such an high priest became 
us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, sepa- 
rate from sinners, and made higher than 
the heavens; Ver. 27. Who needeth not 
daily, as those high priests, to offer up 
sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then 
for the people's : for this he did once, when 
he offered up himself. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For 
there is one God, and one mediator between 
God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 

r Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in 
word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord 
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father 
by him. Heb. xiii. 1 5. By him therefore 
let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God con- 
tinually, that is, the fruit of our lips, 
giving thanks to his name. 

182. s Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit 
also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not 
what we should pray for as we ought ; but 
the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us 



270 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 183. For whom are we to pray? 

A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon 
earth ; * for magistrates/ and ministers ; w for ourselves/ 
our brethren/ yea, our enemies ; z and for all sorts of men 
living/ or that shall live hereafter ; b but not for the dead/ 
nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto 
death. d 

Q. 184. For what things are we to pray ? 

A, We are to pray for all things tending to the glory 
of God/ the welfare of the church/ our own g or others 
good ; h but not for any thing that is unlawful. 1 



with groanings which, cannot be uttered. 
Ver. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts 
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, 
because he maketh intercession for the saints 
according to the will of God. Ps. x. 17. 
Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the 
humble : thou wilt prepare their heart, thou 
wilt cause thine ear to hear. Zech. xii. 
10. And / will pour upon the house of 
David, and upon the inhabitants of Jeru- 
salem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; 
and they shall look upon me whom they 
have pierced, and they shall mourn, etc. 

183. * Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with 
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, 
and watching thereunto with all perseve- 
rance and supplication for all saints. Ps. 
xxviii. 9. Save thy people, and bless thine 
inheritance: feed them also, and lift them 
up for ever. 

v 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, 
first of all, supplications, prayers, interces- 
sions, and giving of thanks, be made for all 
men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are 
in authority; that we may lead a quiet and 
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 

w Col. iv. 3, Withal praying also for us, 
that God would open unto us a door of 
utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, 
for which I am also in bonds. 

x Gen xxxii. 11. Deliver me, I pray thee, 
from the hand of my brother, from the 
hand of Esau : for I fear him, lest he will 
come and smite me, and the mother with 
the children. 

y James v. 16. Confess your faults one 
to another, and pray one for another, that 
ye may be healed. The effectual fervent 
prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

z Matt. v. 44. But I say unto you, Love 
your enemies, bless them that curse you, 
do good to them that hate you, and pray 
for them which despitefully use you, and 
persecute you. 



a 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. [See above in v.] 
b John xvii. 20, Neither pray I for 
these alone, but for them also which shall 
believe on me through their word. 2 Sam. 
vii. 29. Therefore now let it please thee to 
bless the house of thy ser vant, that it may con- 
tinue for ever before thee: for thou, Lord 
God, hast spoken it : and with thy blessing 
let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. 

c 2 Sam. xii. 21. Then said his servants 
unto him, What thing is this that thou 
hast done? Thou didst fast and weep 
for the child, while it was alive; but when 
the child was dead, thou didst rise and 
eat bread. Ver. 22. And he said, While 
the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept : 
for I said, Who can tell whether God will 
be gracious to me, that the child may live ? 
Ver. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore 
should I fast? can I bring him back again ? 
I shall go to him, but he shall not return 
to me. 

d 1 John v. 16. If any man see his 
brother sin a sin which is not unto death, 
he shall ask, and he shall give him life 
for them that sin not unto death. There 
is a sin unto death: i" do not say that he 
shall pray for it. 

184. e Matt. vi. 9. After this manner 
therefore pray ye : Our Father which art 
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

f Ps. Ii. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure 
unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jeru- 
salem. Ps. cxxii. 6. Pray for the peace of 
Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 

s Matt. vii. 11. If ye then, being evil, 
know how to give good gifts unto your 
children, how much more shall your Father 
which is in heaven give good things to them 
that ask him? 

h Ps. cxxv. 4. Do good, Lord, unto 
those that be good, and to them that are up- 
right in their hearts. 

* 1 John v. 14. And this is the confi- 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



271 



Q. 185. How are we to pray? 

A. We are to pray with an awful appreliension of the 
majesty of God/ and deep sense of our own unworthi- 
ness/ necessities, 01 and sins ; n with penitent/ thankful/ and 
enlarged hearts ; q with understanding/' faith/ sincerity/ 
fervency/ love/ and perseverance/ waiting upon him/ with 
humble submission to his will/ 

Q. 186. What rule hath God given for our direction in 
the duty of prayer? 

A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the 
duty of prayer ; a but the special rule of direction is that 



dence that we have in him, that, if we 
ask any thing according to his will, he hear- 
eth us. 

185. k Eccl. v. 1. Keep thy foot when 
thou goest to the house of God, and be 
more ready to hear than to give the 
sacrifice of fools: for they consider not 
that they do evil. 

1 Gen. xviii. 27 . And Abraham answered 
and said, Behold now, I have taken upon 
me to speak unto the Lord, which am but 
dust and ashes. Gen. xxxii. 10. I am not 
worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of 
all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto 
thy servant, etc. 

m Luke xv. 17. And when he came to 
himself, he said, How many hired servants 
of my father's have bread enough, and to 
spare, and / perish with hunger! Ver. 

18. I will arise, and go to my father, 
and will say unto him, Father, / have 
sinned against Heaven, and before thee, Ver. 

19. And am no more worthy to be called 
thy son: make me as one of thy hired 
servants. 

n Luke xviii. 13. And the publican, stand- 
ing afar off, would not lift up so much as 
his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his 
breast, saying, God be merciful to me a 
sinner. Ver. 14. I tell you, this man went 
down to his house justified rather than the 
other: for every one that exalteth himself 
shall be abased; and he that humbleth 
himself shall be exalted. 

° Ps. li. 17. The sacrifices of God are a 
broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart, 
God, thou wilt not despise. 

p Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing : but 
in every thing by prayer and supplication, 
with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
made known unto God. 

1 1 Sam. i. 15. And Hannah answered 
and said, No, my Lord ; I am a woman of 
a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither 



wine nor strong drink, but have poured out 
my soul before the Lord. 1 Sam. ii. 1. And 
Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth 
in the Lord ; mine horn is exalted in the 
Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine 
enemies; because 1 rejoice in thy salva- 
tion. 

* 1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then ? I will 
pray with the spirit, and I will pray with 
the understanding also, etc. 

s Mark xi. 24. Therefore I say unto you, 
What thiDgs soever ye desire, when ye 
pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye 
shall have them. James i. 6. But let him 
ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that 
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven 
with the wind and tossed. 

* Ps. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all 
them that call upon him, to all that call 
upon him in truth. Ps. xvii. 1. Hear the 
right, Lord, attend unto my cry; give 
ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of 
feigned lips. 

v James v. 16. The effectual fervent 
prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

w 1 Tim. ii. 8. I will therefore that men 
pray every where, lifting up holy hands, 
without wrath and doubting. 

x Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all 
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and 
watching thereunto with all perseverance and 
supplication for all saints. 

y Micah vii. 7. Therefore I will look 
unto the Lord ; I will wait for the God of 
my salvation: my God will hear me. 

z Matt. xxvi. 39. And he went a little 
farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, 
saying, my Father, if it be possible, let 
this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not 
as I will, but as thou wilt. 

186. a 1 John v. 14. And this is the 
confidence that we have in him, that, if 
we ask any thing according to his will, he 
heareth us. 



272 THE LARGER CATECHISM. 

form of prayer which our Saviour Christ taught his disciples, 
commonly called The Lord's prayer. h 

Q. 187. How is the Lord's prayer to be used? 

A. The Lord's prayer is not only for direction, as a 
pattern, according to which we are to make other 
prayers; but may also be used as a prayer, so that it 
be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other 
graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of 
prayer. 

Q. 188. Of how many parts doth the Lord's prayer 
consist ? 

A. The Lord's prayer consists of three parts ; a preface, 
petitions, and a conclusion. 

Q. 189. What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer 
teach us ? 

A. The preface of the Lord's prayer (contained in these 
words, Our Father which art in heaven^ teacheth us, 
when we pray, to draw near to God with confidence of his 
fatherly goodness, and our interest therein ; e with rever- 
ence, and all other child-like dispositions/ heavenly affec- 
tions/ and due apprehensions of his sovereign power, 
majesty, and gracious condescension : h as also, to pray with 
and for others. 1 



b Matt. vi. 9-13. After this manner 
therefore pray ye : Our Father, etc. Luke 
xi. 2, 3, 4. And he said unto them, When 
ye pray, say, Our Father, etc. 

187. c Matt. vi. 9. Compared with Luke 
xi. 2. [See above in letter b .] 

189. d Matt. vi. 9. 

e Luke xi. 13. If ye then, being evil, 
know how to give good gifts unto your 
children ; how much more shall your heaven ly 
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask 
him? Rom. viii. 15. For ye have not re- 
ceived the spirit of bondage again to fear; 
but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, 
whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 

f Isa. lxiv. 9. Be not wroth very sore, 
Lord, neither remember iniquity for 
ever : behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all 
thy people. 

g Ps. cxxiii. 1. Unto thee lift I up mine 
eyes, thou that dwellest in the heavens. 
Lam. iii. 41. Let us lift up our heart with 
our hands unto God in the heavens. 

h Isa. lxiii. 15. Look down from heaven, 
and behold from the habitation of thy holi- 
ness and of thy glory : where is thy zeal and 



thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and 
of thy mercies toward me? are they re- 
strained? Ver. 16. Doubtless thou art 
our Father, though Abraham be ignorant 
of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: 
thou, Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer ; 
thy name is from everlasting. Neh. i. 4. 
And it came to pass, when I heard these 
words, that I sat down and wept, and 
mourned certain days, and fasted, and 
prayed before the God of heaven, Ver. 5. 
And said, I beseech thee, Lord God of 
heaven, the great and terrible God, that 
keepeth covenant and mercy for them that 
love him, and observe his commandments : 
Ver. 6. Let thine ear now be attentive, 
and thine eyes open, that thou mayest 
hear the prayer of thy servant, which I 
pray before thee now, day and night, for 
the children of Israel thy servants, and 
confess the sins of the children of Israel, 
which we have sinned against thee : both 
I and my father's house have sinned. 

1 Acts xii. 5. Peter therefore was kept 
in prison; but prayer was made without 
ceasing of the church unto God for him. 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



273 



Q. 190. What do we pray for in the first petition ? 

A. In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy namef) 
acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is 
in ourselves and all men to honour God aright, 1 we pray, 
that Glod would by his grace enable and incline us and 
others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem 
him, m his titles, 11 attributes, ordinances, word, p works, and 
whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by; q 
and to glorify him in thought, word/ and deed: s that he 
would prevent and remove atheism/ ignorance/ ido- 
latry/ profaneness/ and whatsoever is dishonourable to 

unto God, which always causeth us to 
triumph in Christ, and malceth manifest the 
savour of his knowledge by us in every place, 
Ver. 15. For we are unto God a sweet 
savour of Christ, in them that are saved, 
and in them that perish. 

* Ps. cxlv. throughout, L will extol thee, 
my God, King, etc. Ps. viii. throughout. 
Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name 
in all the earth ! etc. 

r Ps. ciii. 1. Bless the Lord, my soul; 
and all that is within me, bless his holy 
name. Ps. xix. 14. Let the words of my 
mouth, and the meditation of my heart, he 
acceptable in thy sight, Lord, my 
strength, and my redeemer. 

s Phil. i. 9. And this I pray, that your 
love may abound yet more and more in 
knowledge and in all judgment; Ver. 11. 
Being filled with the fruits of righteousness^ 
which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory 
and praise of God. 

% Ps. lxvii. 1. God be merciful unto us, 
and bless us ; and cause his face to shine 
upon us. Selah. Ver. 2. That thy way 
may be known upon earth, thy saving health 
among all nations. Ver. 3. Let the peo- 
ple praise thee, God; let all the people 
praise thee. Ver. 4. let the nations be 
glad, and sing for joy : for thou shalt judge 
the people righteously, and govern the 
nations upon earth. Selah. 

v Eph. i. 17. That the God of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may 
give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revela- 
tion in the knowledge of him: Ver. 18. The 
eyes of your understanding being enlight- 
ened; that ye may know what is the hope 
of his calling, and what the riches of the 
glory of his inheritance in the saints. 

w Ps. xcvii. 7. Confounded be all they 
that serve graven images, that boast them- 
selves of idols : worship him, all ye gods. 
x Ps. lxxiv. 18. Remember this, that the 
S 



190. k Matt. vi. 9. 

1 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient 
of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves: 
but our sufficiency is of God. Ps. li. 15. 

Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth 
shall shew forth thy praise. 

m Ps. lxvii. 2. That thy way may be 
known upon earth, thy saving health among 
all nations. Ver. 3. Let the people praise 
thee, God; let all the people praise thee. 

n Ps. lxxxiii. 18. That men may know 
that thou, whose name alone is JEHO VALT, 
art the most High over all the earth. 

Ps. lxxxvi. 10. For thou art great, and 
doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. 
Ver. 11. Teach me thy way, Lord; I 
will walk in thy truth : unite my heart to 
fear thy name. Ver. 12. / will praise 
thee, Lord my God, with all my heart ; 
and I will glorify thy name for evermore. 
Ver. 13. For great is thy mercy toward me ; 
and thou hast delivered my soul from the 
lowest hell Ver. 15. But thou, Lord, 
art a God full of compassion, and gracious, 
long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and 
truth. 

p 2 Thess. iii, 1. Finally, brethren, pray 
for us, that the word of the Lord may have 
free course, and be glorified, even as it is 
with you. Ps. cxlvii. 19. He sheweth his 
word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judg- 
ments unto Lsrael. Ver. 20. He hath not 
dealt so with any nation : and as for his 
judgments, they have not known them. 
Praise ye the Lord. Ps. cxxxviii. 1. I will 
praise thee with my whole heart; before the 
gods will I sing praise unto thee. Ver. 2. 

1 will worship toward thy holy temple, 
and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness, 
and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified 
thy word above all thy name. Ver. 3. In 
the day when I cried thou answeredst me, 
and strengthenedst me with strength in 
my soul. 2 Cor. ii. 14. Now thanks be 



274 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



him; y and, by bis over-ruling providence, direct and dis- 
pose of all things to his own glory. 2 

Q. 191. What do we pray for in the second petition? 

A. In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom 
come*') acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be 
by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, b we 
pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be de- 
stroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world/ 
the Jews called, 6 the fulness of the Gentiles brought 
in ; f the church furnished with all gospel-officers and 



enemy hath reproached, Lord, and that the 
foolish people have blasphemed thy name. 
Ver. 22. Arise, God, plead thine own 
cause: remember how the foolish man re- 
proacheth thee daily. Ver. 23. Forget not 
the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of 
those that rise up against thee increaseth 
continually. 

y 2 Kings xix. 15. And Hezekiah prayed 
before the Lord, and said, Lord God of 
Israel which dwellest between the cheru- 
bims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of 
all the kingdoms of the earth ; thou hast 
made heaven and earth. Ver. 16. Lord, 
bow down thine ear, and hear ; open, Lord, 
thine eyes, and see; and hear the words of 
Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach 
the living God. 

* 2 Chron. xx. 6. And (Jehoshaphat) 
said, Lord God of our fathers, art not 
thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou 
over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in 
thine hand is there not power and might, 
so that none is able to withstand thee? 
Ver. 10. And now, behold, the children of 
Ammon, and Moab, and mount Seir, whom 
thou wouldest not let Israel inTade, when 
they came out of the land of Egypt, but 
they turned from them, and destroyed 
them not; Ver. 11. Behold, I say, how 
they reward us, to come to cast us out of 
thy possession, which thou hast given us to 
inherit. Ver. 12. our God, icilt thou not 
judge them ? for we have no might against 
this great company that cometh against 
us ; neither know we what to do : but our 
eyes are upon thee. Ps. lxxxiii. throughout. 
Keep not thou silence, God: hold not 
thy peace, etc. Ps. cxl. 4. Keep me, 
Lord, from the hands of the wicked ; pre- 
serve me from the violent man, who have 
purposed to overthrow my going3. Ver. 
8. Grant not, Lord, the desires of the 
wicked; further not his wicked device, 
lest they exalt themselves. Selah. 



191. a Matt. vL 10. 

b Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye 
walked according to the course of this 
world, according to the prince of the power 
of the air, the spirit that now workelh in the 
children of disobedience: Ver. 3. Among 
whom also we all had our conversation in 
times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfill- 
ing the desires of the flesh and of the mind ; 
and were by nature the children of wrath, 
even as others. 

c Ps. lxvii. 1. Let God arise, let his 
enemies be scattered: let them also that hate 
him flee before him. Ver. 18. Thou hast 
ascended on high, thou hast led captivity 
captive: thou hast received gifts for men; 
yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord 
God might dwell among them. Rev. xii. 
10. And I heard a loud voice saving in 
heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, 
and the kingdom of our God, and the power 
of his Christ: for the accuser of our 
brethren is cast down, which accused them 
before our God day and night. Ver. 11. 
And they overcame him by the blood of the 
Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; 
and they loved not their lives unto the 
death. 

a 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray 

for us, that the word of the Lord may have 
free course, and be glorified, even as it is 
with you. 

e Rom. x. 1. Brethren, my heart's desire 
and prayer to God for Lsrael is, that they 
might be saved. 

f John xvii. 9. I pray for them : I pray 
not for the world, but for them which thou 
hast given me; for they are thine. Ver. 
20. Neither pray L for these alone, but for 
them also which shall believe on me through 
their word. Rom. xL 25. For I would not, 
brethren, that ye should be ignorant of 
this mystery, (lest ye should be wise in 
your own conceits,) that blindness in part 
is happened to Israel, until the fulness of 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



275 



ordinances/ purged from corruption, 11 countenanced and 
maintained by the civil magistrate : 1 that the ordinances 
of Christ may be purely dispensed, and made effectual 
to the converting of those that are yet in their sins, and 
the confirming, comforting, and building up of those that 
are already converted : k that Christ would rale in our 
hearts here, 1 and hasten the time of his second coming, 
and our reigning with him for ever : m and that he would 
be pleased so to exercise the kingdom of his power in all 
the world, as may best cgnduce to these ends. n 



the Gentiles be come in. Ver. 26. And so 
all Israel shall be saved ; as it is written, 
There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, 
and shall turn away ungodliness from 
Jacob. Ps. lxvii. throughout. God be 
merciful unto us, and bless us ; and cause 
his face to shine upon us, etc. 

g Matt. ix. 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord 
of the harvest, that he will send forth labour- 
ers into his harvest. 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, 
brethren, pray for us, that the word of the 
Lord may have free course, and be glorified, 
even as it is with you. 

h Mai. i. 11. For from the rising of the 
sun, even unto the going down of the same, 
my name shall be great among the Gen- 
tiles; and in every place incense shall be 
offered unto my name, and a pure offering: 
for my name shall be great among the heathen, 
saith the Lord of hosts. Zeph. iii. 9. For 
then will L turn to the people a pure language, 
that they may all call upon the name of 
the Lord, to serve him with one consent. 

i 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, 
first of all, supplications, prayers, inter- 
cessions, and giving of thanks, be made 
for all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all 
that are in authority; that we may lead a 
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and 
honesty. 

k Acts iv. 29. And now, Lord, behold 
their threatenings : and grant unto thy 
servants, that with all boldness they may speak 
thy word, Ver. 30. By stretching forth 
thine hand to heal; and that signs and 
wonders may be done by the name of thy 
holy child Jesus. Eph. vi. 18. Praying 
always with all prayer and supplication in 
the Spirit, and watching thereunto with 
all perseverance and supplication for all 
saints; Ver. 19. And for me, that utterance 
may be given unto me, that L may open my 
mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of 
the gospel, Ver. 20. For which I am an 
ambassador in bonds; that therein I may 



speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Rom. xv. 
29. And I am sure that, when I come unto 
you, I shall come in the fulness of the 
blessing of the gospel of Christ. Ver. 30. 
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord 
J esus Christ's sake, and for the love of the 
Spirit, that ye strive together with me in 
your prayers to God for me: Ver. 32. That 
L may come unto you with joy by the will 
of God, and may with you be refreshed. 2 
Thess. i. 11. Wherefore also we pray al- 
ways for you, that our God would count you 
tvorthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good 
pleasure of his goodness, and the work of 
faith with power. 2 Thess. ii. 16. Now our 
Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even 
our Father, which hath loved us, and hath 
given us everlasting consolation, and good 
hope through grace, Ver. 17. Comfort your 
hearts, and stablish you in every good vjord 
and work. 

1 Eph. iii. 14. For this cause / bow my 
knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, Ver. 15. Of whom the whole fa- 
mily in heaven and earth is named, Ver. 
16. That he would grant you, according to 
the riches of his glory, to be strengthened 
with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 
Ver. 17. That Christ may dwell in your 
hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and 
grounded in love, Ver. 18. May be able 
to comprehend with all saints what is the 
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 
Ver. 19. And to know the love of Christ, 
which passeth knowledge, that ye might 
be filled with all the fulness of God. Ver. 
20. Now unto him that is able to do ex- 
ceeding abundantly above all that we ask 
or think, according to the power that 
worketh in us. 

m Rev. xxii. 20. He which testifieth these 
things saith, Surely I come quickly : Amen. 
Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

n Isa. lxiv. 1. Oh that thou wouldest rend 
the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, 



276 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 192. What do ice pray for in the third petition ? 

A. In the third petition, (which is, Thy will he done in 
earth, as it is in heaven, ) acknowledging, that by nature 
we and all men are not only utterly unable and unwilling 
to know and do the will of God/ but prone to rebel 
against his word, q to repine and murmur against his pro- 
vidence/ and wholly inclined to do the will of the flesh, 
and of the devil : s we pray, that God would by his Spirit 
take away from ourselves and others all blindness/ weak- 
ness/ indisposedness, w and perverseness of heart ; x and by 
his grace make us able and willing to know, do, and 
submit to his will in all things/ with the like humi- 



that the mountains might flow down at 
thy presence ; Ver. 2. As when the melt- 
ing fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters 
to boil : to make thy name knoicn to thine ad- 
versaries, that the nations may tremble at thy 
presence! Rev. iv. 8. And the four beasts 
had each of them six wings about him; 
and they were full of eyes within: and 
they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, 
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, 
and is, and is to come. Ver. 9. And when 
those beasts give glory, and honour, and thanks, 
to him that sat on the throne, who liveth 
for ever and ever, Ver. 10. The four and 
twenty elders fall down before him that 
sat on the throne, and worship him that 
liveth for ever and ever, and cast their 
crowns before the throne, saying, Ver. 11. 
Thou art icorthy, Lord, to receive glory, 
and honour, and power : for thou hast 
created all things, and for thy pleasure 
they are and were created. 
192. Matt. vi. 10. 

p Rom. vii. 18. For / know that in me 
(that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: 
for to will is present with me ; but how to 
perform that which is good I find not. Job 
xxi. 14. Therefore they say unto God, 
Depart from us ; for ice desire not the know- 
ledge of thy icays. 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the 
natural man receiveth not the things of the 
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto 
him ; neither can he knoiv them, because they 
are spiritually discerned. 

q Rom. viii. 7. Because the carnal mind 
is enmity against God; for it is not subject 
to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

T Exod. xvii. 7. And he called the name 
of the place Massah, and Meribah, because 
of the chiding of the children of Israel, and 
because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is 
the Lord among us, or not? Numb. xiv. 



2. And all the children of Israel murmured 
against Moses and against Aaron; and the 
whole congregation said unto them, Would 
God that we had died in the land of Egypt ! 
or, would God we had died in this wilder- 
ness! 

s Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye 
walked according to the course of this icorld, 
according to the prince of the poicer of the air, 
the spirit that now worketh in the children of 
disobedience. 

tEph. i. 17. That the God of our Lord 
Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give 
unto you the spirit of icisdom and revelation 
in the know-ledge of him: Ver. 18. The eyes 
of your understanding being enlightened ; that 
ye may know what is the hope of his calling, 
and what the riches of the glory of his in- 
heritance in the saints. 

v Eph. iil 16. That he would grant you, 
according to the riches of his glory, to be 
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the 
inner man. 

w Matt. xxvi. 40. And he cometh unto 
the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and 
saith unto Peter, What! could ye not 
watch with me one hour ? Ver. 41 . Watch 
atid pray, that ye enter not into temptation: 
the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is 



* Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard 
Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou 
hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as 
a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou 
me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the 
Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely after that 
I was turned, I repented: and after that 
I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh : 
I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, be- 
cause I did bear the reproach of my youth. 

j Ps. cxix. 1. Blessed are the undefiled 
in the way, who walk in the law of the 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



277 



lity/ cheerfulness/ faithfulness/ diligence/ zeal/ sincerity/ 
and constancy/ as the angels do in heaven. 8 

Q. 193. What do we pray for in the fo urth petition ? 

A, In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our 
daily bread^) acknowledging, that in Adam, and by our 
own sin, we have forfeited our right to all the outward 
blessings of this life, and deserve to be wholly deprived 
of them by God, and to have them cursed to us in the 
use of them; 1 and that neither they of themselves are 



Lord. Ver. 8. I will keep thy statutes : 
forsake me not utterly. Ver. 35. Make 
me to go in the path of thy commandments ; 
for therein do I delight. Ver. 36. Incline 
my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to 
covetousness. Acts xxi. 14. And when he 
would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, 
The will of the Lord be done. 

z Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, 
man, what is good; and what doth the 
Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and 
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy 
God? 

» Ps. c. 2. Serve the Lord with gladness; 
come before his presence with singing. Job 
i. 21. And (Job) said, Naked came I out 
of my mother's womb, and naked shall I 
return thither: the Lord gave, and the 
Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name 
of the Lord. 2 Sam. xv. 25. And the king 
said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of 
God into the city: if I shall find favour in 
the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, 
and shew me both it and his habitation. 
* Ver. 26. But if he thus say, I have no 
delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do 
to me as seemeth good unto him. 

b Isa. xxxviii. 3. And said, Remember 
now, Lord, I beseech thee, how / have 
walked before thee in truth, and with a 
perfect heart, and have done that which is 
good in thy sight: and Hezekiah wept 
sore. 

c Ps. cxix. 4. Thou hast commanded us 
to keep thy precepts diligently. Ver. 5. 
that my ways were directed to keep thy 
statutes ! 

a Rom. xii. 11. Not slothful in business; 
fervent in spirit; serving the Lord. 

e Ps. cxix. 80. Let my heart be sound in 
thy statutes, that I be not ashamed. 

f Ps. cxix. 112. I have inclined mine 
heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto 
the end. 

.s Isa. vi. 2. Above it stood the seraphims : 
each one had six wings; with twain he 
covered his face, and with twain he covered 



his feet, and with twain he did fly. Ver. 
3. And one cried unto another, and said, 
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the 
whole earth is full of his glory. Ps. ciii. 

20. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel 
in strength, that do his commandments, 
hearkening unto the voice of his word. Ver. 

21. Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye 
ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Matt, 
xviii. 10. Take heed that ye despise not 
one of these little ones: for I say unto 
you, That in heaven their angels do always 
behold the face of my Father which is in 
heaven. 

193. n Matt. vi. 11. 

i Gen. ii. 1 7. But of the tree of the know- 
ledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat 
of it : for in the day that thou eatest thereof 
thou shalt surely die. Gen. iii. 17. And 
unto Adam he said, Because thou hast 
hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and 
hast eaten of the tree, of which I com- 
manded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat 
of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in 
sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy 
life. Rom. viii. 20. For the creature was 
made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by 
reason of him who hath subjected the same 
in hope; Ver. 21. Because the creature 
itself also shall be delivered from the bond- 
age of corruption into the glorious liberty 
of the children of God. Ver. 22. For we 
know that the whole creation groaneth and 
travaileth in pain together until now. Jer. 
v. 25. Your iniquities have turned away 
these things, and your sins have withholden 
good things from you. Deut. xxviii. from 
Verse 15 to the end of the Chapter. Ver. 
15. But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt 
not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy 
God, to observe to do all his commandments 
and his statutes, which I command thee 
this day, that all these curses shall come 
upon thee, and overtake thee. Ver. 16. Cursed 
shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt 
thou be in the field. Ver. 17. Cursed shall 
be thy basket and thy store, etc. 



278 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



able to sustain us, k nor we to merit, 1 or by our own 
industry to procure them; m but prone to desire, 11 get,° 
and use them unlawfully : p we pray for ourselves and 
others, that both they and we, waiting upon the pro- 
vidence of God from day to day in the use of lawful 
means, may, of his free gift, and as to his fatherly wisdom 
shall seem best, enjoy a competent portion of them ; q and 
have the same continued and blessed unto us in our holy 
and comfortable use of them, r and contentment in them ; 3 
and be kept from all things that are contrary to our 
temporal support and comfort. 6 

Q. 194. What do we pray for in the fifth petition? 

A, In the fifth petition, (which is, Forgive us our debts, 
as we forgive our debtors/) acknowledging, that we and 

mercy before the man. Gen. xxviii. 20. And 
Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will 
be with me, and will keep me in this way that 
I go, and vnll give me bread to eat, and 
raiment to put on. Eph. iv. 28. Let him 
that stole steal no more: but rather let 
him labour, working with his hands the thing 
which is good, that he may have to give to him 
thatneedeth. 2 Thess. iii. 11. For we hear 
that there are some which walk among you 
disorderly, working not at all, but are busy- 
bodies. Ver. 12. Now them that are such 
we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus 
Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat 
their own bread. Phil. iv. 6. Be careful 
for nothing: but in every thing by prayer 
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let 
your requests be made known unto God. 

r 1 Tim. iv. 3. Forbidding to marry, 
and commanding to abstain from meats, 
which God hath created to be received 
with thanksgiving of them which believe 
and know the truth. Ver. 4. For every 
creature of God is good, and nothing to be re- 
fused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 
Ver. 5. For it is sanctified by the word of 
God and prayer. 

8 1 Tim. vi. 6. But godliness with con- 
tentment is great gain. Ver. 7. For we 
brought nothing into this world, and it is 
certain we can carry nothing out. Ver. 8. 
And having food and raiment, let us be there- 
with content. 

* Prov. xxx. 8. Remove far from me 
vanity and lies ; give me neither poverty nor 
riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 
Ver. 9. Lest I be full, and deny thee, and 
say, Who is the Lord ? or lest I be poor, and 
steal, and take the name of my God in vain. 
194. v Matt. vi. 12. 



Deut. viii. 3. And he humbled thee, 
and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee 
with manna, which thou knewest not, 
neither did thy fathers know; that he 
might make thee know that man doth not 
live by bread only, but by every word that 
proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth 
man live. 

1 Gen. xxxii. 10. I am not worthy of the 
least of all the mercies, and of all the 
truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy 
servant, etc. 

m Deut. viii. 17. And thou say in thine 
heart, 3Iy power, and the might of mine hand, 
hath gotten me this wealth. Ver. 18. But 
thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: 
for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, 
that he may establish his covenant which 
he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 

a Jer. vi. 13. For from the least of them 
even unto the greatest of them, every one 
is given to covetousness ; and from the pro- 
phet even unto the priest, every one deal- 
eth falsely. Mark vii. 21 . For from within, 
out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, 
adulteries, fornications, murders, Ver. 22. 
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, etc. 

Hos. xii. 7. He is a merchant, the 
balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth 
to ojjpress. 

p James iv. 3. Ye ask, and receive not, 
because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume 
it upon your lusts. 

1 Gen xliii. 12. And take double money 
in your hand: and the money that was 
brought again in the mouth of your sacks, 
carry it again in your hand; perad venture 
it was an oversight. Ver. 13. Take also 
your brother, and arise, go again unto the 
man: Ver. 14. And God Almighty give you 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



279 



all others are guilty both of original and actual sin, and 
thereby become debtors to the justice of God ; and that 
neither we, nor any other creature, can make the least 
satisfaction for that debt : w we pray for ourselves and 
others, that God of his free grace would, through the 
obedience and satisfaction* of Christ, apprehended and 
applied by faith, acquit us both from the guilt and punish- 
ment of sin, x accept us in his Beloved: 7 continue his 
favour and grace to us, z pardon our daily failings/ and 
fill us with peace and joy, in giving us daily more and 
more assurance of forgiveness ; b which we are the rather 
emboldened to ask, and encouraged to expect, when we 
have this testimony in ourselves, that we from the heart 
forgive others their offences. 

have redemption through his blood, the 
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches 
of his grace. 

z 2 Pet. i. 2. Grace and peace be multiplied 
unto you through the knowledge of God s 
and of Jesus our Lord. 

a Hosea xiv. 2. Take with you words, 
and turn to the Lord : say unto him, Take 
away all iniquity, and receive us graciously : 
so will we render the calves of our lips. 
Jer. xiv. 7. Lord, though our iniquities 
testify against us, do thou it for thy name's 
sake: for our backslidings are many; we 
have sinned against thee. 

b Bom. xv. 13. Now the God of hope fill 
you with all joy and peace in believing, that 
ye may abound in hope, through the power 
of the Holy Ghost. Ps. li. 7. Purge me 
with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash 
me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 
Ver. 8. Make me to hear joy and gladness; 
that the bones which thou hast broken 
may rejoice. Ver. 9. Hide thy face from 
my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 
Ver. 10. Create in me a clean heart, 
God; and renew a right spirit within 
me. Ver. 12. Restore unto me the joy of 
thy salvation; and uphold me with thy 
free spirit. 

c Luke xi. 4. And forgive us our sins; 
for we also forgive every one that is indebted 
to us. Matt. vi. 14. For if ye forgive men 
their trespasses, your heavenly Father will 
also forgive you : Ver. 15. But if ye forgive 
not men their trespasses, neither will your 
Father forgive your trespasses. Matt, xviii. 
35. So likewise shall my heavenly Father 
do also unto you, if ye from your hearts for- 
give not every one his brother their tres- 
passes. 



w Bom. iii. from Verse 9 to 22. Ver. 9. 
What then ? are we better than they ? No, 
in no wise : for we haf e before proved both 
Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under 
sin; Ver. 10. As it is written, There is 
none righteous, no, not one: Ver. 11. There 
is none that understandeth, there is none 
that seeketh after God: Ver. 12. They 
are all gone out of the way, they are to- 
gether become unprofitable ; there is none 
that doeth good, no, not one, etc. Ver. 19. 
That every mouth may be stopped, and all 
the world may become guilty before God, etc. 
Matt, xviii. 24. And when he had begun 
to reckon, one was brought unto him which 
owed him ten thousand talents. Ver. 25. 
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord 
commanded him to be sold, and his wife 
and children, and all that he had, and pay- 
ment to be made. Ps. cxxx. 3. If thou, 
Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, Lord, who 
shall stand? Ver. 4. But there is for- 
giveness with thee, that thou mayest be 
feared. 

x Bom. iii. 24. Being justified freely by 
his grace, through the redemption that is in 
Christ Jesus; Ver. 25. Whom God hath 
set forth to be a propitiation through faith 
in his blood, to declare his righteousness 
for the remission of sins that are past, through 
the forbearance of God ; Ver. 26. To de- 
clare, I say, at this time his righteousness; 
that he might be just, and the justifier of 
him which believeth in Jesus. Heb. ix. 22. 
And almost all things are by the law 
purged with blood; and without shedding of 
blood is no remission. 

y Eph. i. 6. To the praise of the glory 
of his grace, wherein he hath made us ac- 
cepted in the Beloved: Ver. 7. In whom we 



280 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



Q. 195. What do we pray for in the sixth petition ? 

A, In the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into 
temptation, but deliver us from evil*) acknowledging, that 
the most wise, righteous, and gracious G-od, for divers 
holy and just ends, may so order things, that we may be 
assaulted, foiled, and for a time led captive by tempta- 
tions; 6 that Satan/ the world/ and the flesh, are ready 
powerfully to draw us aside, and ensnare us; h and that 
we, even after the pardon of our sins, by reason of our 
corruption/ weakness, and want of watchfulness/ are not 
only subject to be tempted, and forward to expose our- 
selves unto temptations/ but also of ourselves unable and 
unwilling to resist them, to recover out of them, and to 
improve them; m and worthy to be left under the power 



195. a Matt. vi. 13. 

e 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. Howbeit in the 
business of the ambassadors of the princes of 
Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire 
of the wonder that was done in the land, 
God left him, to try him, that he might 
know all that was in his heart. 

r 1 Chron. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up 
against Israel, and provoked David to number 
Israel. 

s Luke xxi. 34. And take heed to your- 
selves, lest at any time your hearts be over- 
charged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and 
cares of this life, and so that day come upon 
you unawares. Mark iv. 19. And the cares 
of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, 
and the lusts of other things entering in, 
choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 

h James i. 14. But every man is tempted, 
when he is drawn away of his own lust, and 
enticed. 

* Gal. v. 17. For the flesh lusteth against 
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: 
and these are contrary the one to the 
other ; so that ye cannot do the things that 
ye would. 

k Matt. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that 
ye enter not into temptation: the spirit in- 
deed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

1 Matt. xxvi. 69. Now Peter sat without 
in the palace: and a damsel came unto 
him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of 
Galilee. Ver. 70. But he denied before them 
all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 
Ver. 71. And when he was gone out into 
the porch, another maid saw him, and said 
unto them that were there, This fellow 
was also with Jesus of Nazareth. Ver. 
72. And again he denied with an oath, I do 
not know the man. Gal. ii. 11. But when 



Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood 
him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 
Ver. 12. For before that certain came 
from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: 
but when they were come, he withdrew, 
and separated himself, fearing them which 
were of the circumcision. Ver. 13. And the 
other Jews dissembled likewise with him; in- 
somuch that Barnabas also was carried away 
with their dissimulation. Ver. 1 4. But when 
I saw that they walked not uprightly, accord- 
ing to the truth of the gospel, I said unto 
Peter, etc. 2 Chron. xviii. 3. And Ahab 
king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king 
of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth- 
gilead? And he answered him, 2" am as 
thou art, and my people as thy people ; and 
we will be with thee in the war. Compared 
with 2 Chron. xix. 2. And Jehu the son of 
Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and 
said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help 
the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? 
therefore is wrath upon thee from before 
the Lord. 

m Rom. vii. 23, But I see another law in 
my members warring against the law of 
my mind, and bringing me into captivity to 
the law of sin which is in my members. 
Ver. 24. wretched man that I am I who 
shall deliver me from the body of this death? 
1 Chron. xxi. 1. And Satan stood up 
against Israel, and provoked David to 
number Israel. Ver. 2. And David said 
to Joab, and to the rulers of the people, Go, 
number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; 
and bring the number of them to me, 
that I may know it. Ver. 3. And Joab 
answered, The Lord make his people an 
hundred times so many more as they be : 
but, my lord the king, are they not all my 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



281 



of them: n we pray, that God would so over-rule the 
world and all in it, subdue the flesh/ and restrain Sat an, q 
order all things/ bestow and bless all means of grace/ and 
quicken us to watchfulness in the use of them, that we 
and all his people may by his providence be kept from 
being tempted to sin ; * or, if tempted, that by his Spirit 
we may be powerfully supported and enabled to stand 
in the hour of temptation ; v or when fallen, raised again 
and recovered out of it, w and have a sanctified use and 
improvement thereof : x that our sanctification and salva- 

lord's servants ? why then doth my lord sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart 

require this thing ? why will he be a cause of from me. 

trespass to Israel? Ver. 4. Nevertheless the 1 1 Cor. x. 12. Wherefore, let him that 

king's word prevailed against Joab : where- thinketh he standeth take heed lest he 

fore Joab departed, etc. 2 Chron. xvi. 7. fall. Ver. 13. There hath no temptation 

And at that time Hanani the seer came to taken you but such as is common to man: 

Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Be- but God is faithful, who will not suffer you 

cause thou hast relied on the king of Syria, to be tempted above that ye are able; but will 

and not relied on the Lord thy God, there- with the temptation also make a way to escape, 

fore is the host of the king of Syria escaped that ye may be able to bear it. 

out of thine hand. Ver. 8. Were not the s Heb. xiii. 20. Now the God of peace, 

Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, that brought again from the dead our 

with very many chariots and horsemen ? Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the 

yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, sheep, through the blood of the everlasting 

he delivered them into thine hand. Ver. covenant, Ver. 21. Make you perfect in 

9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro every good work to do his will, working in 
throughout the whole earth, to shew him- you that which is well-pleasing in his 
self strong in the behalf of them whose sight, through Jesus Christ, etc. 

heart is perfect towards him. Herein * Matt. xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that 

thou hast done foolishly; therefore from ye enter not into temptation. Ps. xix. 13. 

henceforth thou shalt have wars. Ver. Keep back thy servant also from presump- 

10. Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and tuous sins; let them not have dominion 
put him in a prison-house; for he was in a over me : then shall I be upright, and I 
rage with him because of this thing. And shall be innocent from the great trans- 
Asa oppressed some of the people the same gression. 

time. v Eph. iii. 14. For this cause I bow my 

n Ps. lxxxi. 11. But my people would not knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus 

hearken to my voice; and Israel would Christ, Ver. 15. Of whom the whole family 

none of me. Ver. 12. So I gave them up in heaven and earth is named, Ver. 16. 

unto their own hearts' 'lust: and they walked That he would grant you, according to the 

in their own counsels. riches of his glory, to be strengthened with 

John xvii. 15. I pray not that thou might by his Spirit in the inner man; Ver. 

shouldest take them out of the world, 17. That Christ may dwell in your hearts 

but that thou shouldest keep them from the by faith. 1 Thess. iii. 13. To the end 

evil. he may stablish your hearts unblameable in 

p Ps. li. 10. Create in me a clean heart, holiness before God, even our Father, at 

God; and renew a right spirit within me. the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with 

Ps. cxix. 133. Order my steps in thy all his saints. Jude, Ver. 24. Now unto 

word : and let not any iniquity have do- him that is able to keep you from falling, 

minion over me. and to present you faultless before the 

<J 2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should be presence of his glory with exceeding joy. 

exalted above measure through the abun- w Ps li. 12. Restore unto me the joy of 

dance of the revelations, there was given to thy salvation; and uphold me with thy 

me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan free Spirit. 

to buffet me, lest I should be exalted, above x 1 Pet. v. 8, Be sober, be tigilant; be- 

measure. Ver. 8. For this thing I be- cause your adversary the devil, as a roar- 



282 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



tion may be perfected/ Satan trodden under our feet/ 
and we fully freed from sin, temptation, and all evil, for 
ever. a 

Q. 196. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's prayer 

teach us ? 

A. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer, (which is, For 
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. 
Amen?) teacheth us to enforce our petitions with argu- 
ments, which are to be taken, not from any worthiness 
in ourselves, or in any other creature, but from God; d 
and with our prayers to join praises, 6 ascribing to God 
alone eternal sovereignty, omnipotency, and glorious ex- 
cellency ; f in regard whereof, as he is able and willing to 



ing lion, walketh about, seeking whom he 
may devour: Ver. 9. Whom resist stedfast 
in the faith, knowing that the same afflic- 
tions are accomplished in your brethren 
that are in the world. Ver. 10. But 
the God of all grace, who hath called us 
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 
after that ye have suffered a while, make you 
perfect, stablish, strengthen^ settle you. 

y 2 Cor. xiii. 7. Now I pray to God 
that ye do no evil; not that we should 
appear approved, but that ye should do 
that which is honest, though we be as 
reprobates. Ver. 9. For we are glad 
when we are weak, and ye are strong : 
and this also we wish, even your perfec- 
tion. 

z Rom. xvi. 20. And the God of peace 
shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. 
Zech. iii. 2. And the Lord said unto Satan, 
The Lord rebuke thee, Satan; even the 
Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke 
thee : is not this a brand plucked out of 
the fire? Luke xxii. 31. And the Lord 
said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath de- 
sired to have you, that he may sift you as 
wheat: Ver. 32. But I have prayed for thee, 
that thy faith fail not: and when thou art 
converted, strengthen thy brethren. 

a John xvii. 15.7 pray not that thou 
shouldest take them out of the world, but 
that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 
1 Thess. v. 23. And the very God of peace 
sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your 
whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved 
blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

196. b Matt. vi. 13. 

c Rom. xv. 30. Now I beseech you, 
brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, 
and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive 



together with me in your prayers to God for 
me. 

d Dan. ix. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord 
my God, and made my confession, and said, 
Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping 
the covenant and mercy to them that love 
him, and to them that keep his command- 
ments; — Ver. 7. Lord, righteousness 
belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion 
of faces, as at this day; — Ver. 8. O Lord, 
to us belongeth confusion of face, to our 
kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, 
because we have sinned against thee. Ver. 
9. To the Lord our God belong mercies and 
forgivenesses, though we have rebelled 
against him. Ver. 16. Lord, according 
to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let 
thine anger and thy fury be turned away 
from thy city Jerusalem, — Ver. 17. Now 
therefore, our God, hear the prayer of 
thy servant, and his supplications, and 
cause thy face to shine upon thy sanc- 
tuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 
Ver. 18. my God, incline thine ear, and 
hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desola- 
tions, and the city which is called by thy 
name: for we do not present our supplica- 
tions before thee for our righteousnesses, 
but for thy great mercies. Ver. 19, Lord, 
hear: Lord, forgive; Lord, hearken 
and do ; defer not, for thine own sake, my 
God: for thy city and thy people are called 
by thy name. 

e Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing : 
but in every thing by prayer and supplica- 
tion, with thanksgiving, let your requests be 
made known unto God, etc. 

1 1 Chron. xxix. 10. Wherefore David 
blessed the Lord before all the congrega- 
tion: and David said, Blessed be thou, 
Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and 



THE LARGER CATECHISM. 



2S3 



help us, g so we by faith are emboldened to plead with him 
that he would/ and quietly to rely upon him, that he 
will fulfil our requests. 1 And, to testify this our desire 
and assurance, we say, Amen* 



ever. Ver. 11. Thine, Lord, is the great- 
ness, and the power, and the glory, and the 
victory, and the majesty: for all that is in 
the heaven and in the earth is thine ; thine is 
the kingdom, Lord, and thou art exalted 
as head above all. Ver. 12. Both riches and 
honour come of thee, and thou reignest over 
all, and in thine hand is power and might; 
and in thine hand it is to make great, and 
to give strength unto all, Ver. 13. Now 
therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise 
thy glorious name. 

s Eph. iii. 20. Now unto him that is able 
to do exceeding abundantly above all that vje 
ask or think, according to the power that 
worketh in us, Ver. 21. Unto him be 
glory in the church by Christ Jesus 
throughout all ages, world without end. 
Amen. Luke xi. 13. If ye then, being 
evil, know how to give good gifts unto 
your children ; how much more shall your 
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them 
that ask him? 

h 2 Chron. xx. 6. And (Jehoshaphat) 
said, OLord God of our fathers, art not thou 



God in heaven 9 and rulest not thou over all 
the kingdoms of the heathen ? and in thine 
hand is there not power and might, so that 
none is able to withstand thee? Ver. 11. 
Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come 
to cast us out of thy possession, which thou 
hast given us to inherit. 

*2 Chron. xiv. 11. And Asa cried unto 
the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is 
nothing with thee to help, whether with 
many, or with them that have no power: 
help us, Lord our God; for we rest on 
thee, and in thy name we go against this 
multitude. Lord, thou art our God; let 
not man prevail against thee. 

k 1 Cor. xiv. 16. Else, when thou shalt 
bless with the spirit, how shall he that occu- 
pieth the room of the unlearned say Amen 
at thy giving of thanks, seeing he under- 
standeth not what thou sayest ? Rev. xxii. 
20. He which testifieth these things saith, 
Surely I come quickly: Amen. Even so, 
come, Lord Jesus. Ver. 21. The grace of 
our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 
AMEN. 



THE 

SHORTER CATECHISM; 



AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE 
ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION 
BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS 
OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND. 

AND 

APPROVED ANNO 1648, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
TO BE A DIRECTORY FOR CATECHISING SUCH AS ARE 
OF WEAKER CAPACITY. 

"WITH 



THE PEOOFS FEOM THE SCEIPTUEE. 



Assembly at Edinburgh, July 28, 1648. Sess. 19. 
Act approving the Shorter Catechism. 

THE General Assembly having seriously considered the Shorter 
Catechism agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines sitting at 
Westminster, with assistance of Commissioners from this Kirk ; do find, 
upon due examination thereof, that the said Catechism is agreeable to 
the word of God, and in nothing contrary to the received doctrine, 
worship, discipline, and government of this Kirk : And therefore approve 
the said Shorter Catechism, as a part of the intended uniformity, to be a 
Directory for catechising such as are of weaker capacity. 

A. KER. 



THE 



SHORTER CATECHISM. 



Quest. 1. JJ7HAT is the chief end of man ? 

Ans. Man's chief end is to glorify God/ 
and to enjoy him for ever. b 

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we 
may glorify and enjoy him ? 

A. The word of God, which is contained in the scrip- 
tures of the Old and ]STew Testaments/ is the only rule 
to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. d 

Q* 3. What do the scriptures principally teach ? 

A. The scriptures principally teach what man is to 
believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of 
man. 6 

Q. 4. What is God? 

A. God is a Spirit/ infinite/ eternal/ and unchange- 

1. a 1 Cor. x. 31. Whether therefore ye a 1 John i. 3. That which we have seen 
eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all and heard declare we unto you, that ye also 
to the glory of God. Rom. xi. 36. For of may have fellowship with us: and truly our 
him, and through him, and to him, are all fellowship is with the Father, and with his 
things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Son Jesus Christ. Ver. 4. And these 

b Ps. lxxiii. 25. Whom have I in heaven things write we unto you, that our joy 

but thee? and there is none upon earth that may be full. 

I desire besides thee. Ver. 26. My flesh 3. e 2 Tim. i. 13. Hold fast the form of 

and my heart faileth : but Grod is the sound words, which thou hast heard of me, 

strength of my heart and my portion for in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 

ever. Ver. 27. For, lo, they that are far 2 Tim. iii. 16. [See in letter c.] 

from thee shall perish : thou hast destroyed 4. f John iv. 24. God is a Spirit: and 

all them that go a- whoring from thee. Ver. they that worship him must worship him 

28. But it is good for me to draw near to in spirit and in truth. 

God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, s Job xi. 7. Canst thou by searching find 

that I may declare all thy works. out God? canst thou find out the Almighty 

2. c 2 Tim. iii. 16. All scripture is given unto perfection? Ver. 8. It is as high as 
by inspiration of God, and is profitable for heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than 
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for in- hell; what canst thou know? Ver. 9. 
struction in righteousness. Eph. ii. 20. The measure thereof is longer than the earth. 
And are built upon the foundation of the and broader than the sea. 

apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself h Ps. xc. 2. Before the mountains were 

being the chief corner-stone. brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed 



288 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



able/ in his being/ wisdom, 1 power, m holiness/ justice, 
goodness, and truth. 

Q. 5. Are there more Gods than one ? 

A. There is but One only, the living and true God. p 

Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead? 

A. There are three persons in the Godhead ; the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three 
are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and 
glory . q 

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God? 

A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, ac- 
cording to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own 
glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass/ 

Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees ? 

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation 
and providence. 

Q. 9. What is the work of creation ? 

A. The work of creation is, God's making all things of 
nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, 
and all very good. 8 



the earth and the world, even from ever- 
lasting to everlasting thou art God. 

1 James i. 17. Every good gift and every 
perfect gift is from above, and cometh 
down from the Father of lights, with whom 
is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 

k Exod. iii. 14. And God said unto 
Moses, L AM THAT I AM: and he said, 
Thus shalt thou say unto the children of 
Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 

1 Ps. cxlvii. 5. Great is our Lord, and 
of great power : his understanding is infinite. 

m Rev. iv. 8. And the four beasts had 
each of them six wings about him; and 
they were full of eyes within: and they 
rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, 
holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, 
and is to come. 

n Rev. xv. 4. Who shall not fear thee, 
Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou 
only art holy: for all nations shall come 
and worship before thee; for thy judgments 
are made manifest. 

Exod. xxxiv. 6. And the Lord passed 
by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, 
The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long- 
suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 
Ver. 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, for- 
giving iniquity, and transgression, and sin, 
and that will by no means clear the guilty; 
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the 
children, and upon the children's children, 



unto the third and to the fourth genera- 
tion. 

5. p Deut. vi. 4. Hear, Israel; The 
Lord our God is one Lord. Jer. x. 10. But 
the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, 
and an everlasting King: at his wrath the 
earth shall tremble, and the nations shall 
not be able to abide his indignation. 

6. q 1 John v. 7. For there are three that 
bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, 
and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 
Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost. 

7. r Eph. i. 4. According as he hath 
chosen us in him before the foundation of the 
world, that we should be holy and without 
blame before him in love. Ver. 11. In whom 
also we have obtained an inheritance, being 
predestinated according to the purpose of him 
who worheth all things after the counsel of his 
own will. Rom. ix. 22. What if God, 
willing to show his wrath, and to make 
his power known, endured with much long- 
suffering the vessels of wrath fitted to de- 
struction; Ver. 23. And that he might 
make known the riches of his glory on the 
vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared 
unto glory? 

9. 8 Gen. i. throughout. Heb. xi. 3. 
Through faith we understand that the 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



289 



Q. 10. How did God create man ? 

A. God created man male and female, after his own 
image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with 
dominion over the creatures. 1 

Q. 11. What are God's works of providence ? 

A. God's works of providence are, his most holy, v wise, w 
and powerful preserving x and governing all his creatures, 
and all their actions/ 

Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise 
toward man in the estate wherein he was created ? 

A. When God had created man, he entered into a 
covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect 
obedience ; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the know- 
ledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death. 2 

Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein 
they were created? 

A. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their 
own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by 
sinning against God. a 



worlds were framed by the word of God; so 
that things which are seen were not made of 
things which do appear. 

10. * Gen. i. 26. And God said, Let us 
make man in our image, after our likeness; 
and let them have dominion over the fish of 
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over 
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over 
every creeping thing that creepeth upon the 
earth. Ver. 27. So God created man in 
his own image: in the image of God created 
he him; male and female created he them. 
Ver. 28. And God blessed them: and God 
said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, 
and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and 
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and 
over the fowl of the air, and over every 
living thing that moveth upon the earth. Col. 
iii. 10. And have put on the new man, 
which is renewed in knowledge after the 
image of him that created him. Eph. iv. 24. 
And that ye put on the new man, which 
after God is 'created in righteousness and 
true holiness. 

11. 7 Ps. cxlv. 17. The Lord is righteous 
in all his ways, and holy in all his ivorks. 

* Ps. civ. 24. Lord, how manifold 
are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made 
them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 
Isa. xxviii. 29. This also cometh forth 
from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful 
in counsel, and excellent in working. 

x Heb. i. 3. Who, being the brightness 



of his glory, and the express image of his 
person, and upholding all things by the word 
of his power, when he had by himself 
purged our sins, sat down on the right 
hand of the Majesty on high. 

y Ps. ciii. 19. The Lord hath prepared 
his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom 
ruleth over all. Matt. x. 29. Are not two 
sparrows sold for a farthing ? and one of 
them shall not fall on the ground without 
your Father. Ver. 30. But the very hairs 
of your head are all numbered. Ver. 31. 
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value 
than many sparrows. 

12. z Gal. iii. 12. And the law is not of 
faith: but, The man that doeth them shall 
live in them. Gen. ii. 17. But of the tree of 
the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not 
eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest 
thereof thou shalt surely die. 

13. a Gen. iii. 6. And when the woman 
saw that the tree was good for food, and 
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree 
to be desired to make one wise, she took of 
the fruit thereof and did eat ; and gave also 
unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 
Ver. 7. And the eyes of them both were 
opened, and they knew that they were 
naked ; and they sewed fig-leaves together, 
and made themselves aprons. Ver. 8. 
And they heard the voice of the Lord God 
walking in the garden in the cool of the 
day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves 

T 



290 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



Q. 14. What is sin ? 

A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression 
of, the law of God. b 

Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell 
from the estate wherein they were created? 

A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the 
estate wherein they were created, was their eating the 
forbidden fruit. c 

Q. 16. Did all mankind fall in Adam's first trans- 
gression ? 

A, The covenant being made with Adam, not only for 
himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending 
from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell 
with him, in his first transgression/ 

Q. 17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? 

A, The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and 
misery. 6 

Q. 18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate where- 
into man fell? 

A. The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, 
consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of 
original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole 
nature, which is commonly called Original Sin ; together 
with all actual transgressions which proceed from it. f 

from the presence of the Lord God amongst upon all men, for that all have sinned. 1 

the trees of the garden. Yer. 13. And Cor. xv. 21. For since by man came death, 

the Lord God said unto the woman, What by man came also the resurrection of the 

is this that thou hast done ? And the dead. Ver. 22. For as in Adam all die, 

woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and even so in Christ shall all he made alive. 
I did eat. Eccl. vii. 29. Lo, this only 17. e Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one 

have I found, that God hath made man man sin entered into the world, and death 

upright; but they have sought out many by sin; and so death passed upon all men, 

inventions. for that all have sinned. 

14. *>1 John iii. 4. Whosoever com- 18. f Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, as by one 
mitteth sin transgresseth also the law: for man sin entered into the world, and death by 
sin is the trans gression of the law. sin; and so death passed upon all men, for 

15. c Gen. iii. 6. [See in letter a .] Ver. that all have sinned. Ver. 19. For as by 
12. The woman whom thou gavest to be one man's disobedience many were made 
with me, she gave me of the tree, and / sinners ; so by the obedience of one shall 
did eat. many be made righteous. Rom. v. from 

16. i Gen. ii. 16. And the Lord God Verse 10 to the 20. Eph. ii. 1. And you 
commanded the man, saying, Of every tree hath he quickened, who were dead in tres- 
of the garden thou mayest freely eat; passes and sins; Ver. 2. Wherein in time 
Ver. 17. But of the tree of the knowledge past ye walked according to the course of this 
of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it : world, according to the prince of the power 
for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou of the air, the spirit that now icorketh in the 
sbalt surely die. Rom. v. 12. Wherefore, children of disobedience: Ver. 3. Among 
as by one man sin entered into the world, whom also we all had our conversation in 
and death by sin; and so death passed times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfil- 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



291 



Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man 

f ell? 

A, All mankind by their fall lost communion with 
God/ are under his wrath and curse/ and so made liable 
to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains 
of hell for ever. 1 

Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate 
of sin and misery ? 

A, God having, out of his mere good pleasure, from 
all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, k did enter 
into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate 
of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of 
salvation by a Redeemer. 1 

Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect ? 

A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord 
Jesus Christ, m who, being the eternal Son of God, became 



ling the desires of the flesh and of the mind ; 
and were by nature the children of wrath, even 
as others. James i. 14. But every man 
is tempted, when he is drawn away of his 
own lust, and enticed. Ver. 15. Then, when 
lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth 
sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth 
forth death. Matt. xv. 19. For out of 
the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, 
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, 
blasphemies. 

19. g Gen. iii. 8. And they heard the 
voice of the Lord God walking in the gar- 
den in the cool of the day: and Adam and 
his wife hid themselves from the presence of 
the Lord God amongst the trees of the 
garden. Ver. 10. And he said, I heard 
thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, 
because I was naked ; and I hid myself 
Ver. 24. So he drove out the man: and he 
piaced at the east of the garden of Eden 
cherubims and a flaming sword which turned 
every way, to keep the way of the tree of 
life, 

h Eph. ii. 2. Wherein in time past ye 
walked according to the course of this 
world, according to the prince of the power 
of the air, the spirit that now worketh in 
the children of disobedience: Ver. 3. 
Among whom also we all had our conver- 
sation in times past in the lusts of our 
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and 
of the mind; and were by nature the chil- 
dren of wrath, even as others. Gal. iii. 10. 
For as many as are of the works of the law 
are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed 
is every one that continueth not in all things 



which are written in the book of the law to do 
them. 

1 Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a living 
man complain, a man for the punishment of 
his sins? * Eom. vi. 23. For the wages of 
sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal 
life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Matt, 
xxv. 41. Then shall he say also unto them 
on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, 
into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil 
and his angels. Ver. 46. And these shall 
go away into everlasting punishment: but 
the righteous into life eternal. 

20. & Eph. i. 4. According as he hath 
chosen us in him before the foundation of thz 
world, that we should be holy and without 
blame before him in love. 

1 Bom. iii. 20. Therefore by the deeds 
of the law there shall no flesh be justified 
in his sight: for by the law is the know- 
ledge of sin. Ver. 21. But now the righte- 
ousness of Gcd without the law is manifested, 
being witnessed by the law and the pro • 
phets; Ver. 22. Even the righteousness of 
God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto 
all and upon all them that believe; for there 
is no difference. Gal. iii. 21. Is the law 
then against the promises of God? God 
forbid : for if there had been a law given 
which could have given life, verily righte- 
ousness should have been by the law. 
Ver. 22. But the scripture hath concluded 
all under sin, that the promise by faiili of 
Jesus Christ might be given to them that be- 
lieve. 

21. m 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, 
and one mediator between God and men, the 



232 THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 

man, n and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in 
two distinct natures, and one person, for ever. 

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become 

man ? 

A. Christ, the Son of Grod, became man, by taking to 
himself a true body, p and a reasonable soul, q being con- 
ceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of 
the Virgin Mary, and born of her, r yet without sin. 3 

Q. 23, What offices doth Christ execute as our Re- 
deemer ? 

A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a 
prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of 
humiliation and exaltation.* 



man Christ Jesus; Ver. 6. Who gave him- 
self a ransom for all, to be testified in due 
time. 

n John i. 14. And the Word was made 
flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld 
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of 
the Father,) full of grace and truth. Gal. 
iv. 4. But when the fulness of the time 
was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a 
woman, made under the law. 

Rom. ix. 5. Whose are the fathers, 
and of whom, as concerning the flesh, 
Christ came, who is over all, God blessed 
for ever. Amen. Luke i. 35. And the 
angel answered and said unto her, The 
Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the 
power of the Highest shall overshadow 
thee : therefore also that holy thing, which 
shall be born of thee, shall be called the 
Son of God. Col. ii. 9. For in him dwell- 
eth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 
Heb. vii. 24. But this man, because he 
continueth ever, hath an unchangeable 
priesthood. Ver. 25. Wherefore he is able 
also to save them to the uttermost that 
come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth 
to make intercession for them. 

22. p Heb. ii. 14. Forasmuch then as 
the children are partakers of flesh and 
blood, he also himself likewise took part of 
the same; that through death he might 
destroy him that had the power of death, 
that is, the devil. Ver. 16. For verily he 
took not on him the nature of angels; but 
he took on him the seed of Abraham. Heb. 
x. 5. Wherefore, when he cometh into the 
world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering 
thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou 
prepared me. 

^ Matt. xxvi. 38. Then saith he unto 
them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even 



unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with 
me. 

r Luke i. 27. To a virgin espoused to a 
man, whose name was Joseph, of the house 
of David ; and the virgin's name was Mary. 
Ver. 31. And, behold, thou shall conceive 
in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and 
shalt call his name JESUS. Ver. 35. 
And the angel answered and said unto her, 
The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and 
the power of the Highest shall overshadow 
thee : therefore also that holy thing, which 
shall be born of thee, shall be called the 
Son of God. Ver. 42. And she spake out 
with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art 
thou among women, and blessed is the fruit 
of thy womb. Gal. iv. 4. [See in the pre- 
ceding question, letter n .] 

s Heb. iv. 15. For we have not an high 
priest which cannot be touched with the 
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all 
points tempted like as we are, yet without 
sin. Heb. vii. 26. For such an high priest 
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, 
separate from sinners, and made higher than 
the heavens. 

23. * Acts iii. 21. Whom the heaven 
must receive until the times of restitution 
of all things, which God hath spoken by 
the mouth of all his holy prophets since 
the world began. Ver. 22. For Moses 
truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall 
the Lord your God raise up unto you of your 
brethren, like unto me ; him shall ye hear 
in all things whatsoever he shall say unto 
you. Heb. xii. 25. See that ye refuse not 
him that speaketh : for if they escape not 
who refused him that spake on earth, much 
more shall not we escape, if we turn away 
from him that speaketh from heaven. Com- 
pared with 2 Cor. xiii. 3. Since ye seek a 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



293 



Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? 

A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing 
to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our 
salvation.! 

Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest ? 

A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once 
offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice/ 
and reconcile us to God ; x and in making continual inter- 
cession for us. y 

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king ? 

A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us 

is in the bosom of the Father, he hath de- 
clared him. 1 Pet. i. 10. Of which salva- 
tion the prophets have enquired and 
searched diligently, who prophesied of the 
grace that should come unto you: Ver. 11. 
Searching what, or what manner of time, the 
Spirit of Christ which was in them did sig- 
nify, when it testified beforehand the 
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that 
should follow. Ver. 12. Unto whom it was 
revealed, that not unto themselves, but 
unto us, they did minister the things which 
are now reported unto you by them that 
have preached the gospel unto you with the 
Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which 
things the angels desire to look into. John 
xv. 15. Henceforth I call you not servants ; 
for the servant knoweth not what his lord 
doeth : but I have called you friends ; for 
all things that I have heard of my Father 
I have madeknown unto you. John xx. 31. 
But these are written, that ye might believe 
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; 
and that believing ye might have life 
through his name. 

25. w Heb. is. 14. How much more shall 
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal 
Spirit offered himself without spot to God, 
purge your conscience from dead works, to 
serve the living God ? Ver. 28 . So Christ teas 
once offered to bear the sins of many : and 
unto them that look for him shall he appear 
the second time, without sin, unto salvation. 

x Heb. ii. 17. Wherefore in all things it 
behoved him to be made like unto his bre- 
thren, that he might be a merciful and faith- 
ful high priest in things pertaining to God 
to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 

y Heb. vii. 24. But this man, because 
he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable 
priesthood. Ver. 25. Wherefore he is 
able also to save them to the uttermost 
that come unto God by him, seeing he ever 
liveth to make intercession for them. 



proof of Christ speaking in me, which to 
you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in 
you. Heb. v. 5. So also Christ glorified 
not himself to be made an high priest; but 
he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, 
to-day have I begotten thee. Ver. 6. As 
he saith also in another place, Thou art a 
priest for ever, after the order of Melchise- 
dec. Ver. 7. Who in the days of his flesh, 
when he had offered up prayers and suppli- 
cations, with strong crying and tears, unto 
him that was able to save him from death, 
and was heard in that he feared. Heb. vii. 
25. Wherefore he is able also to save them 
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, 
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession 
for them. Ps. ii. 6. Yet have I set my King 
upon my holy hill of Zion. Isa. ix. 6. For 
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is 
given; and the government shall be upon his 
shoulder; - and his name shall be called 
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, 
The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 
Ver. 7. Of the increase of his government and 
peace there shall be no end, upon the throne 
of David, and upon his kingdom, to order 
it, and to establish it with judgment and 
with justice from henceforth even for ever. 
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform 
this. Matt. xxi. 5. Tell ye the daughter 
of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, 
meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt 
the foal of an ass. Ps. ii. 8. Ask of me, 
and I shall give thee the heathen for thine 
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of 
the earth for thy possession. Ver. 9. Thou 
shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou 
shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's ves- 
sel. Ver. 10. Be wise now therefore, 
ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the 
earth. Ver. 11. Serve the Lord with fear, 
and rejoice with trembling. 

24. v John i. 18. No man hath seen God 
at any time ; the only begotten Son, which 



294 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



to himself, 2 in ruling 3, and defending us, b and in restraining 
and conquering all his and our enemies. 

Q. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist ? 

A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and 
that in a low condition/ 1 made under the law, 6 undergoing 
the miseries of this life/ the wrath of God/ and the cursed 
death of the cross ; h in being buried/ and continuing under 
the power of death for a time. k 

Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation ? 

A, Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again 
from the dead on the third day/ in ascending up into 



26. z Acts xv. 14. Simeon hath de- 
clared how God at the first did visit the 
Gentiles, to take out of them a people for 
his name. Ver. 15. And to this agree the 
•words of the prophets; as it is written, 
Ver. 16. After this I will return, and 
will build again the tabernacle of David, 
which is fallen down; and I will build 
again the ruins thereof, and I will set 
it up. 

a Isa. xxxiii. 22. For the Lord is our 
judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is 
our king ; he will save us. 

b Isa. xxxii. 1. Behold, a king shall 
reign in righteousness, and princes shall 
rule in judgment. Ver. 2. And a man 
shall be as an hiding-place from the wind, 
and a covert from the tempest; as rivers 
of water in a dry place ; as the shadow of 
a great rock in a weary land. 

c 1 Cor. xv. 25. For he must reign, till 
he hath put all enemies under his feet. Ps. 
ex. throughout. 

27. d Luke ii. 7. And she brought forth 
her first-born son, and wrapped him in 
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; 
because there was no room for them in the 
inn, 

e Gal. iv. 4. But when the fulness of 
the time was come, God sent forth his 
Son, made of a woman, made under the 
law. 

f Heb. xii. 2. Looking unto Jesus, the 
author and finisher of our faith; who, for 
the joy that was set before him, endured 
the cj-oss, despising the shame, and is set 
down at the right hand of the throne of 
God. Ver. 3. For consider him that en- 
dured such contradiction of sinners against 
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in 
your minds. Isa. liii. 2. For he shall 
grow up before him as a tender plant, and 
as a root out of a dry ground : he hath no 
form nor comeliness ; and when we shall 



see him, there is no beauty that we should 
desire him. Ver. 3. He is despised and 
rejected of men; a man of sorroivs, and 
acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were 
our faces from him : he was despised, and we 
esteemed him not. 

s Luke xxii. 44. And, being in an agony, 
he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat 
wa^ as it were great drops of blood fall- 
ing down to the ground. Matt, xxvii. 
46. And about the ninth hour Jesus 
cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, 
Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, 
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken 
me? 

h Phil. ii. 8. And being found in fashion 
as a man, he humbled himself, and became 
obedient unto death, even the death of the 
cross. 

1 1 Cor. xv. 3. For I delivered unto you 
first of all that which I also received, how 
that Christ died for our sins according to 
the scriptures ; Ver. 4. And that he was 
buried, and that he rose again the third day 
according to the scriptures. 

k Acts ii. 24. Whom God hath raised up, 
having loosed the pains of death: because it 
was not possible that he should be holden 
of it. Ver. 25. For David speaketh con- 
cerning him, I foresaw the Lord always 
before my face; for he is on my right 
hand, that I should not be moved: Ver. 26. 
Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my 
tongue was glad; moreover also, my flesh 
shall rest in hope: Ver. 27. Because thou 
wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt 
thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 
Ver. 31. He, seeing this before, spake of 
the resurrection of Christ, that his sold was 
not left in hell, neither his flesh did see cor- 
ruption. 

28. 1 1 Cor. xv. 4. And that he was 
buried, and that he rose again the third day 
according to the scriptures. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



295 



heaven,™ in sitting at the right hand of God the Father/ 1 
and in coming to judge the world at the last day. 

Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption 
purchased by Christ ? 

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased 
by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us p by his 
Holy Spirit.* 

Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption 
purchased by Christ ? 

A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased 
by Christ, by working faith in us, r and thereby uniting us 
to Christ in our effectual calling. 8 

Q. 31. What is effectual calling ? 

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit/ whereby, 
convincing us of our sin and misery/ enlightening our 
minds in the knowledge of Christ/ and renewing our 



m Mark xvi. 19. So then, after the Lord 
had spoken unto them, he teas received up 
into heaven, and sat on the right hand of 
God. 

n Eph. i. 20. Which he wrought in 
Christ, when he raised him from the dead, 
and set him at his own right hand in the 
heavenly places. 

o Acts i. 11. Which also said. Ye men 
of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into 
heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken 
up from you into heaven, shall so come in 
like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 
Acts xvii. 31. Because he hath appointed 
a day, in the which he will judge the world 
in righteousness by that man whom he hath 
ordained ; whereof he hath given assurance 
unto all men, in that he hath raised him 
from the dead. 

29. p John i. 11. He came unto his own, 
and his own received him not. Ver. 12, 
But as many as received him, to them gave 
he power to become the sons of God, even to 
them that believe on his name. 

q Tit. iii 5. Not by works of righteous- 
ness which we have done, but according to 
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of 
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 
Ver. 6. Which he shed on us abundantly 
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. 

30. r Eph. i. 13. In whom ye also trusted, 
after that ye heard the word of truth, the 
gospel of your salvation: in whom also, 
after that ye believed, ye were sealed u-ith 
that Holy Spirit of promise, Ver. 14. Which 
is the earnest of our inheritance, until the 
redemption of the purchased possession, unto 



the praise of his glory. John vi 37. All 
that the Father giveth me shall come to 
me : and him that cometh to me I will in 
no wise cast out. Ver. 39. And this is 
the Father's will which hath sent me, that 
of all which he hath given me I should lose 
nothing, but should raise it up again at the 
last day. Eph. ii. 8. For by grace are ye 
saved through faith ; and that not of your- 
selves : it is the gift of God. 

s Eph. iii. 17. That Christ may dwell in 
your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted 
and grounded in love, etc. 1 Cor. i. 9. God 
is faithful, by whom ye were called unto 
the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 

31. » 2 Tim. i. 9. Who hath saved us, 
and called us with an holy calling, not ac- 
cording to our works, but according to his 
ov;n purpose and grace, which was given us 
in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2 
Thess. ii. 13. But we are bound to give 
thanks alway to God for you, brethren be- 
loved of the Lord, because God hath from 
the beginning chosen you to salvation 
through sanctification of the Spirit, and be- 
lief of the truth. Ver. 14. Whereunto he 
called you by our gospel, to the obtaining 
of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

v Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard 
this, they were pricked in their heart, and 
said unto Peter, and to the rest of the 
apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we 
do? 

w Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and 
to turn them from darkness to light, and from 
the power of Satan unto God, that they 



296 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



wills/ he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus 
Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel/ 

Q. 32. What benefits do they that are effectually called 
partake of in this life ? 

A. They that are effectually called do in this life par- 
take of justification/ adoption/ and sanctification, and the 
several benefits which in this life do either accompany or 
flow from them. b 

Q. 33. What is justification ? 

A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein 
he pardoneth all our sins/ and accepteth us as righteous 
in his sight/ only for the righteousness of Christ imputed 
to us/ and received by faith alone/ 



may receive forgiveness of sins, and inherit- 
ance among them which are sanctified by 
faith that is in me. 

x Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart also will 
1 give you, and a new spirit will I put 
within you; and I will take away the stony 
heart out of your flesh, and I will give you 
an heart of flesh. Ver. 27. And I will 
put my Spirit within you, and cause you to 
walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my 
judgments, and do them. 

y John vi. 44. No man can come to me, 
except the Father, which hath sent me, 
draw him : and I will raise him up at the 
last day. Ver. 45. It is written in the 
prophets, And they shall be all taught of 
God. Every man therefore that hath heard, 
and hath learned of the Father, comeih unto 
me. Phil. ii. 13. For it is God which work- 
eth in you, both to will and to do of his good 
pleasure. 

32. z Rom. viii. 30. Moreover, whom he 
did predestinate, them he also called ; and 
whom he called, them he also justified; and 
whom he justified, them he also glorified. 

a Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us 
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ 
to himself, according to the good pleasure 
of his will. 

b 1 Cor. i. 26. For ye see your calling, 
brethren, how that not many wise men 
after the flesh, not many mighty, not many 
noble, are called. Ver. 30. But of him 
are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made 
unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanc- 
tification, and redemption. 

33. c Rom. iii. 24. Being justified freely 
by his grace, through the redemption that 
is in Christ Jesus; Ver. 25. Whom God 
hath set forth to be a propitiation through 
faith in his blood, to declare his righteous- 



ness for the remission of sins that are past, 
through the forbearance of God. Rom. 
iv. 6. Even as David also describeth the 
blessedness of the man, unto whom God 
imputeth righteousness without works, 
Ver. 7. Saying, Blessed are they whose ini- 
quities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 
Ver. 8. Blessed is the man to whom the 
Lord will not impute sin. 

d 2 Cor. v. 19. To wit, that God was in 
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, 
not imputing their trespasses unto them; and 
hath committed unto us the word of recon- 
ciliation. Ver. 21. For he hath made him 
to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we 
might be made the righteousness of God in 
him. 

e Rom. v. 17. For if by one man's offence 
death reigned by one; much more they 
which receive abundance of grace, and of 
the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life 
by one, Jesus Christ. Ver. 18. Therefore, 
as by the offence of one judgment came 
upon all men to condemnation ; even so by 
the righteousness of one the free gift came 
upon all men unto justification of life. Ver. 
19. For as by one man's disobedience many 
were made sinners; so by the obedience of 
one shall many be made righteous. 

f Gal. ii. 16. Knowing that a man is not 
justified by the works of the law, but by 
the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed 
in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by 
the faith of Christ, and not by the works 
of the law: for by the works of the law 
shall no flesh be justified. Phil. iii. 9. 
And be found in him, not having mine 
own righteousness, which is of the law, 
but that which is through the faith of 
Christ, the righteousness which is of God 
by faith. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



297 



Q. 34. What is adoption ? 

A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace/ whereby we 
are received into the number, and have a right to all the 
privileges of the sons of God. h 

Q. 35. What is sanctification ? 

A. Sanctification is the work of God's free grace/ where- 
by we are renewed in the whole man after the image of 
God, k and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, 
and live unto righteousness. 1 

Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do ac- 
company or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctifica- 
tion ? 

A, The benefits which in this life do accompany or 
flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, 
assurance of God's love, peace of conscience, 111 joy 
Holy Ghost, n increase of grace, and perseverance 
to the end. p 

Q. 37. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at 
death ? 

A, The souls of believers are at their death made 
perfect in holiness/ and do immediately pass into 



are, 
in the 
therein 



m 

34. s 1 John iii. 1. Behold what manner 
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that 
we should be called the sons of God: there- 
fore the world knoweth us not, because it 
knew him not. 

h John i. 12. But as many as received 
him, to them gave he power to become the so7is 
of God, even to them that believe on his 
name. Rom. viii. 17. And if children, then 
heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with 
Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, 
that we may be also glorified together. 

35. i2 Thess. ii. 13. God hath from 
the beginning chosen you to salvation 
through sanctification of the Spirit, and be- 
lief of the truth. 

k Eph. iv. 23. And be renewed in the 
spirit of your mind; Ver. 24. And that ye 
put on the new man, which after God is 
created in righteousness and true holiness. 

1 Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried 
with him by baptism into death ; that like as 
Christ was raised up from the dead by the 
glory of the Father, even so we also should 
walk in newness of life. Ver. 6. Knowing 
this, that our old man is crucified with 
him, that the body of sin might be de- 
stroyed, that henceforth we should not serve 
sin. Rom. viii. 1. There is therefore now 
no condemnation to them which are in 



Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, 
but after the Spirit. 

36. m Rom. v. 1. Therefore, being justi- 
fied by faith, we have peace with God, through 
our Lord Jesus Christ: Ver. 2. By whom 
also we have access by faith into this grace 
wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of 
the glory of God. Ver. 5. And hope maketh 
not ashamed; because the love of God is shed 
abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, 
which is given unto us. 

a Rom. xiv. 17. For the kingdom of God 
is not meat and drink ; but righteousness, 
and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 

Prov. iv. 18. But the path of the just 
is as the shining light, that shineth more and 
more unto the perfect day. 

p 1 John v. 1§. These things have I 
written unto you 'that believe on the name 
of the Son of God, that ye may know that 
ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe 
on the name of the Son of God. 1 Pet. i 
5. Who are kept by the power of God 
through faith unto salvation, ready to be 
revealed in the last time. 

37. qHeb. xii. 23. To the general 
assembly and church of the first-born, 
which are written in heaven, and to God 
the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just 
men made perfect. 



298 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



glory ; r and their bodies, being still united to Christ/ do 
rest in their graves* till the resurrection/ 

Q. 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at 
the resurrection ? 

A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in 
glory/ shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the 
day of judgment/ and made perfectly blessed in the full 
enjoying of God 7 to all eternity. 2 

Q. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man ? 

A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience 
to his revealed will. a 

Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule 
of his obedience ? 

A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his 
obedience, was the moral law. b 



r 2 Cor. v. 1. For we know, that, if our 
earthly house of this tabernacle were dis- 
solved, we have a building of God, an house 
not made with hands, eternal in the 
heavens. Ver. 6. Therefore we are always 
confident, knowing that, whilst we are at 
home in the body, toe are absent from the 
Lord: Ver. 8. We are confident, I say, 
and willing rather to be absent from the 
body, and to be present with the Lord. Phil, 
i. 28. For I am in a strait betwixt two, 
having a desire to depart, and to be with 
Christ; which is far better. Luke xxiii. 
43. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say 
unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in 
paradise. 

s 1 Thess. iv. 14. For if we believe that 
Jesus died, and rose again, even so them 
also which sleep in Jesus will God bring 
With him. 

t Isa. lvii. 2. He shall enter into peace: 
they shall rest in their beds, each one walking 
in his uprightness. 

v Job xix. 26. And though after my 
skin worms destroy this body, yet in my 
flesh shall I see God: Ver. 27. Whom L 
shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall 
behold, and not another; though my reins 
be consumed within me. 

88. w 1 Cor. xv. 43. It is sown in dis- 
honour, it is raised in glory: it is sown in 
weakness, it is raised in power. 

x Matt. xxv. 23. His lord said unto him, 
Well done, good and faithful servant; thou 
hast been faithful over a few things, I will 
make thee ruler over many things : enter 
thou into the joy of thy lord. Matt. x. 32. 
Whosoever therefore shall confess me be- 



fore men, him will I confess also before my 
Father which is in heaven. 

y 1 John iii. 2. Beloved, now are we 
the sons of God; and it doth not yet 
appear what we shall be: but we know 
that, when he shall appear, we shall be 
like him ; for we shall see him as he is. 
1 Cor. xiii. 12. For now we see through a 
glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I 
know in part ; but then shall L know even 
as also I am known. 

z 1 Thess. iv. 17. Then we which are 
alive and remain shall be caught up to- 
gether with them in the clouds, to meet 
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever 
be with the Lord. Ver. 18. Wherefore 
comfort one another with these words. 

39. a Micah vi. 8. He hath shewed thee, 

man, what is good; and what doth the 
Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to 
love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 

1 Sam. xv. 22. And Samuel said, Hath the 
Lord as great delight in burnt-offerings 
and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the 
Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacri- 
fice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 

40. b Rom. ii. 14. For when the Gen- 
tiles, which have not the law, do by nature 
the things contained in the law, these, 
having not the law, are a law unto them- 
selves: Ver. 15. Which shew the work of 
the law written in their hearts, their con- 
science also bearing witness, and their 
thoughts the mean while accusing or else 
excusing one another. Bom. x. 5. For 
Moses describeth the righteousness which 
is of the law, That the man which doeth those 
things shall live by them. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



290 



Q. 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended ? 

A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the 
ten commandments. 

Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments ? 

A. The sum of the ten commandments is, To love the 
Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with 
all our strength, and with all our mind ; and our neighbour 
as ourselves/ 

Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments ? 

A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these 
words, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out 
of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage* 

Q. 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments 
teach us ? 

A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, 
That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Ke- 
deemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his command- 
ments/ 

Q. 45. Which is the first commandment ? 

A, The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other 
gods before me. e 

Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment? 

A. The first commandment requireth us to know and 
acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God ; h 
and to worship and glorify him accordingly. 1 

41. c Deut. x. 4. And he wrote on the ness before him, all the days of our life, 
tables, according to the first writing, the 1 Pet. i. 15. But as he which hath called 
ten commandments, which the Lord spake you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of 
unto you in the mount, out of the midst conversation; Ver. 16. Because it iswrit- 
of the fire, in the day of the assembly: and ten, Be ye holy ; for I am holy. Ver. 17. 
the Lord gave them unto me. Matt. xix. And if ye call on the Father, who without 
17. And he said unto him, Why callest respect of persons judgeth according to 
thou me good? there is none good but one, every man's work, pass the time of your 
that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into sojourning here in fear: Ver. 18. Foi-as- 
life, keep the commandments. much as ye know that ye were not redeemed 

42. d Matt. xxii. 37. Jesus said unto with corruptible things, as silver and gold, 
him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with from your vain conversation received by 
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with tradition from your fathers; Ver. 19. 
all thy mind. Ver. 38. This is the first But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a 
and great commandment. Ver. 39. And lamb without blemish and without spot, 
the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love 45. s Exod. xx. 3. 

thy neighbour as thyself. Ver. 40. On these 46. h 1 Chron. xxviii. 9. And thou, So- 

two commandments hang all the law and the lomon my son, know thou the God of thy 

prophets. father, and serve him with a perfect heart, 

43. e Exod. xx. 2. and with a willing mind; for the Lord 

44. f Luke i. 74. That he would grant searcheth all hearts, and understandeth 
unto us, that we, being delivered out of the all the imaginations of the thoughts: if 
hand of our enemies, might serve him without thou seek him, he will be found of thee ; 
fear, Ver. 75. In holiness and righteous- but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee 



soo 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment? 

A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying/ or 
not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God/ and 
our God : m and the giving of that worship and glory to 
any other, which is due to him alone. n 

Q. 48. What are we specially taught hy these words [before 
me] in the first commandment? 

A. These words [before me~\ in the first commandment 
teach us, That God, who seeth all things, taketh notice 
of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any 
other god, 

Q. 49. Which is the second commandment ? 

A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make 
unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that 
is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is 
in the water under the earth : thou shalt not bow down thyself 
to them, nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a jealous 
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 
unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me ; 
and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and 
keep my commandments. v 

Q. 50. What is required in the second commandment? 

A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, 

off for ever. Deut. xxvi. 17. Thou hast » Rom. i, 25. Who changed the truth 

avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, of God into a lie, and worshipped and sewed 

and to walk in his ways, and to keep his the creature more than the Creator, who is 

statutes, and his commandments, and his blessed for ever. Amen. Ver. 26. For 

judgments, and to hearken unto his voice, this cause God gave them up unto vile 

i Matt. iv. 10. Then saith Jesus unto affections: for even their women did change 

him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is writ- the natural use into that which is against 

ten, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, nature. 

and him only shalt thou serve. Ps. xxix. 2. 48. Ezek. viii. 5. Then said he unto 

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the 

name; worship the Lord in the beauty of way toward the north. So I lifted up mine 

holiness. eyes the way toward the north, and be- 

47. k Ps. xiv. 1. The fool hath said in hold northward at the gate of the altar 

his heart, There is no God. They are cor- this image of jealousy in the entry. Ver. 

rupt ; they have done abominable works ; 6. He said furthermore unto me, Son of 

there is none that doeth good. man, seest thou what they do? even the 

1 Rom. i. 21. Because that, when they great abominations that the house of Israel 

knew God, they glorified him not as God, committeth here, that I should go far off 

neither were thankful; but became vain from my sanctuary? But turn thee yet 

in their imaginations, and their foolish again, and thou shalt see greater abomina- 

heart was darkened. tions, etc., to the end of the Chapter. Ps. 

m Ps. lxxxi. 10. I am the Lord thy God, xlvi. 20. If we have forgotten the name of 

which brought thee out of the land of our God, or stretched out our hands to a 

Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will strange god; Ver. 21. Shall not God search 

fill it. Ver. 11. But my people would not this out? for he knoweth the secrets of 

hearken to my voice; and Israel would none the heart, 

of me. 49. p Exod. xx. 4, 5, 6. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



301 



observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious 
worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his 
word. q 

Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? 

A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worship- 
ping of God by images/ or any other way not appointed 
in his word. 8 

Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second com- 
mandment ? 

A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment 
are, God's sovereignty over us/ his propriety in us/ and 
the zeal he hath to his own worship. w 

Q. 53. Which is the third commandment ? 

A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the 
name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will not 
hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain* 

Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment? 

A. The third commandment requireth the holy and 



50. q Deut. xxxii. 46. And he said unto 
them, Set your hearts unto all the words 
which I testify among you this day, which 
ye shall command your children to observe 
to do, all the words of this law. Matt, 
xxviii. 20. Teaching them to observe all 
things whatsoever I have commanded you: 
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto 
the end of the world. Amen. Acts ii. 42. 
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' 
doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of 
bread, and in prayers. 

51. r Deut. iv. 15. Take ye therefore 
good heed unto yourselves, (for ye saw no 
manner of similitude on the day that the 
Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the 
midst of the fire,) Ver. 16. Lest ye cor- 
rupt yourselves, and make you a graven 
image, the similitude of any figure, the like- 
ness of male or female; Ver. 17. The likeness 
of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness 
of any winged fowl that fiieth in the air ; 
Ver. 18. The likeness of any thing that 
creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish 
that is in the waters beneath the earth: Ver. 
19. And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto 
heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and 
the moon, and the stars, even all the host 
of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship 
them, and serve them, which the Lord thy 
God hath divided unto all nations under 
the whole heaven. Exod. xxxii. 5. And 
when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before 
it; and Aaron made proclamation, and 



said, To-morrow is a feast to the Lord. 
Ver. 8. They have turned aside quick- 
ly out of the way which I commanded 
them: they have made them a molten calf, 
and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed 
thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O 
Israel, which have brought thee up out of 
the land of Egypt. 

s Deut. xii. 31. Thou shalt not do so 
unto the Lord thy God: for every abomi- 
nation to the Lord which he hateth have they 
done unto their gods; for even their sons 
and their daughters they have burnt in the 
fire to their gods. Ver. 32. What thing 
soever I command you, observe to do it : 
thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish 
from it. 

52. t Ps. xcv. 2. Let us come before his 
presence with thanksgiving, and make a 
joyful noise unto him with psalms. Ver. 
3. For the Lord is a great God, and a great 
King above all gods. Ver. 6. come, let 
us worship and bow down; let us kneel 
before the Lord our Maker. 

v Ps. xlv. 11. So shall the King greatly 
desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord, and 
worship thou him. 

w Exod. xxxiv. 13. But ye shall de- 
stroy their altars, break their images, and 
cut down their groves. Ver. 14. For 
thou shalt worship no other god: for the 
Lord, whose name is Jealous, ii a jealous 
God. 

53. x Exod. xx. 7. 



302 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



reverent use of God's names/ titles/ attributes/ ordinances/ 
word/ and works/ 

Q. 55 What is forbidden in the third commandment ? 

A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning 
or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself 
known. 6 

Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third command- 
ment ? 

A, The reason annexed to the third commandment is, 
That however the breakers of this commandment mav 
escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will 
not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment/ 



54. 7 Matt vi. 9. After this manner 
therefore pray ye : Our Father which art 
in heaven, Halloiced be thy name. Deut. 
xxviii. 58. If thou wilt not observe to do 
all the words of this law that are written 
in this book, that thou mayest fear this glo- 
rious and fearful name, THE LORD THY 
GOD. 

zPs. Ixviii. 4. Sing unto God. sing praises 
to his name: extol him that rideth upon the 
heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice be- 
fore him. 

a Rev. sv. 8. And they sing the song of 
Moses the servant of God, and the song of 
the Lamb, saying. Great and marvellous 
are thy works, Lord God Almighty ; just 
and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 
Ver. 4. Who shall not fear thee, Lord, 
and glorify thy name? for thou only art 
holy: for all nations shall come and wor- 
ship before thee; for thy judgments are 
made manifest. 

1 Mai i. 11. For from the rising of the 
sun, even unto the going down of the same, 
my name shall be great among the Gen- 
tiles: and in every place incense shall be 
offered unto my name, and a pure offering: 
for my name shall be great among the 
heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. Ver. 14. 
But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his 
flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto 
the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great 
King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name 
is dreadful among the heathen. 

c Ps. exxxviii 1. I will praise thee with 
my whole heart : before the gods will I sing 
praise unto thee. Ver. 2. 1 will worship 
toward thy holy temple, and praise thy 
n.ime for thy loving-kindness, and for thy 
a u'h : for thou hast magnified thy icord above 
all thy name. 

d Job xxxvi. 24. Remember that thou 
magnify his work, which men behold. 



55. e Ma], i. 6. A son honoureth his 
father, and a servant his master : if then 
I be a father, where is mine honour? and if 
I be a master, where is my fear? saith the 
Lord of hosts unto you, priests, that de- 
spise my name. And ye say. Wherein have 
we despised thy name? Ver. 7. Ye offer 
polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say 
Wherein have we polluted thee? In that 
ye say, The table of the Lord is contemp- 
tible. Ver. 12. But ye have profaned it, in 
that ye say, The table of the Lord is pol- 
luted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, 
is contemptible. Mai. ii. 2. If ye tcill not 
hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to 
give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of 
hosts. / will even send a curse upon you, and 
I will curse your blessings; yea, I have 
cursed them already, because ye do not lay 
it to heart. Mai. iii. 14. Ye have said, It 
is vain to serve God; and what profit is it 
that we have kept his ordinance, and that we 
have walked mournfully before the Lord 
of hosts? 

56. f 1 Sam. ii. 12. Now the sons of Eli 
were sons of Belial; they knew not the 
Lord. Ver. 17. Wherefore the sin of the 
young men was very great before the Lord; 
for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. 
Ver. 22. Now Eli was very old, and heard 
all that his sons did unto all Israel; and 
how they lay with the women that as- 
sembled at the door of the tabernacle of 
the congregation. Ver. 29. Wherefore 
kick ye at my sacrifice, and at mine offer- 
ing, which I have commanded in my habi- 
tation; and honourest thy sons above me, 
to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of 
all the offerings of Israel my people? 1 
Sam. iii. 18. For I have told him, that I 
will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity 
which he knoweth; because his S07is made 
themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



303 



Q. 57* Which is the fourth commandment? 

A, The fourth commandment is, llemember the sabbath- 
day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all 
thy work : but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy 
God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, 
nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor 
thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates : for in six 
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in 
them is, and rested the seventh day : wherefore the Lord blessed 
the sabbath-day, and hallowed it. s 

Q. 58. What is required in the fourth commandment ? 

A. The fourth commandment requireth the keeping 
holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his 
word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy 
sabbath to himself. 11 

Q. 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be 
the weekly sabbath ? 

A. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection 
of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to 
be the weekly sabbath ; and the first day of the week ever 
since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the 
Christian sabbath. 1 

Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified? 

A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all 
that day, k even from such worldly employments and re- 

Deut. xxviii. 58. If thou wilt not observe to day God ended his work which he had 

do all the ivorks of this law that are written made ; and he rested on the seventh day from 

in this book, that thou mayest fear this all his work which he bad made. Ver. 3. 

glorious and fearful name, THE LORD And God blessed the seventh day, and sane- 

THY GOD; Ver. 59. Then the Lord will tifiedit; because that in it he had rested 

make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues from all his work which God created and 

of thy seed, even great plagues, and of made. 1 Cor. xvi. % Now concerning the 

long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and collection for the saints, as I have given 

of long continuance. order to the churches of Galatia, even so do 

57. g Exod xx. 8-11. ye. Ver. 2. Upon the first day of the week 

58. h Deut. v. 12. Keep the sabbath-day let every one of you lay by him in store, 
to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath as God hath prospered him, that there be 
commanded thee. Ver. 13. Six days thou no gatherings when I come. Acts xx. 7. 
shalt labour, and do all thy work ; Ver. And upon the first day of the week, when the 
14. But the seventh day is the sabbath of disciples came together to break bread, Paul 
the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do preached unto them, ready to depart on 
any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy the morrow; and continued his speech 
daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy until midnight. 

maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, 60. k Exod. xx. 8. Eemember the sab- 

nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger bath-day, to keep it holy. Ver. 10. But the 

that is within thy gates; that thy man- seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy 

servant and thy maid- servant may rest as God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, 

well as thou. nor thy son, etc. Exod. xvi. 25. And 

59. 1 Gen. ii. 2. And on the seventh Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to day is 







304 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



creations as are lawful on other days ; 1 and spending the 
whole time in the publick and private exercises of Grod's 
worship," 1 except so much as is to be taken up in the works 
of necessity and mercy. n 

Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? 

A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission 
or careless performance of the duties required, and the 
profaning the day by idleness/ or doing that which is in 

m Luke iv. 16. And he came to Naza- 



a sabbath unto the Lord : to-day ye shall 
not find it in the field. Ver. 26. Six 
days ye shall gather it; but on the 
seventh day, -which is the sabbath, in it 
there shall be none. Ver. 27. And it 
came to pass, that there went out some 
of the people on the seventh day for to 
gather, and they found none. Ver. 28. 
And the Lord said unto Moses, How long 
refuse ye to keep my commandments and 
my laws ? 

1 Neh. xiii. 15. In those days saw I in 
Judah some treading wine-presses on the 
sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading 
asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all 
manner of burdens, which they brought into 
Jerusalem on the sabbath-day: and i~ tes- 
tified against them in the day wherein they 
sold victuals. Ver. 16. There dwelt men 
of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, 
and all manner of ware, and sold on the sab- 
bath unto the children of Judah, and in 
Jerusalem. Ver. 17. Then I contended 
xcith the nobles of Judah, and said unto 
them, What evil thing is this that ye do, 
and profane the sabbath-day? Ver. 18. 
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our 
God bring all this evil upon us, and upon 
this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon 
Israel, by profaning the sabbath. Ver. 
19. And it came to pass, that when the 
gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before 
the sabbath, I commanded that the gates 
should be shut, and charged that they 
should not be opened till after the sabbath : 
and some of my servants set I at the gates, 
that there should no burden be brought 
in on the sabbath-day. Ver. 21. Then I 
testified against them, and said unto them, 
Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so 
again, I will lay hands on you. From that 
time forth came they no more on the sabbath. 
Ver. 22. And I commanded the Levites, 
that they should cleanse themselves, and 
that they should come and keep the gates, 
to sanctify the sabbath-day. Remember 
me, my God, concerning this also, and 
spare me according to the greatness of 
thy mercy. 



reth, where he had been brought up : and, 
as his custom was, he went into the syna- 
gogue on the sabbath-day, and stood up for 
to read. Acts xx. 7. And upon the first 
day of the week, etc. [See letter '.] Ps. 
xcii. [title, A psalm or song for the sab- 
bath-day. J Isa. lxvi. 23. And it shall come 
to pass, that from one new-moon to another, 
and from one sabbath to another, shall all 
flesh come to worship before me, saith the 
Lord. 

n Matt. xii. from Verse 1 to 31. At 
that time Jesus went on the sabbath-day 
through the corn ; and his disciples were 
an hungered, and began to pluck the ears 
of corn, and to eat. Ver. 2. But when 
the Pharisees, etc. Ver. 12. It is lawful to 
do well on the sabbath-days. 

61. Ezek. xxii. 26. Her priests have 
violated my law, and have profaned mine 
holy things : they have put no difference 
between the holy and profane, neither 
have they shewed difference between the 
unclean and the clean, and have hid their 
eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned 
among them. Amosviii. 5. Saying, When 
will the new-moon be gone, that we may 
sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set 
forth wheat, making the ephah small, and 
the shekel great, and falsifying the balances 
by deceit? Mai. i. 13. Ye said also, Be- 
hold, what a weariness is it ! and ye have 
snuffed at it, saith the Lord of hosts: and 
ye brought that which was torn, and the 
lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an 
offering: should I accept this of your 
hand ? saith the Lord. 

p Acts xx. 7. And upon the first day of 
the week, when the disciples came together 
to break bread, Paul preached unto them, 
ready to depart on the morrow ; and con- 
tinued his speech until midnight. Ver. 
9. And there sat in a window a certain 
young man named Eutychus, being fallen 
into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long 
preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and 
fell down from the third loft, and was 
taken up dead. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



305 



itself sinful, q or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, 
about our worldly employments or recreations/ 

Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth com- 
mandment ? 

A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment 
are, God's allowing us six days of the week for our own 
employments, 8 his challenging a special propriety in the 
seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath- 
day.' 

Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment? 

A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and 
thy mother ; that thy days may he long upon the land which 
the Lord thy God giveth thee 7 

Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment ? 

A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the 
honour, and performing the duties, belonging to every one 
in their several places and relations, as superiors/ inferiors,* 
or equals. 7 

Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? 

A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting 
of, or doing any thing against, the honour and duty 
which belongeth to every one in their several places and 
relations. 2 



q Ezek. xxiii. 38. Moreover, this they 
have done unto me : they have defiled my 
sanctuary in the same day, and have pro- 
faned my sabbaths. 

r Jer. xvii, 24. And it shall come to 
pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, 
saith the Lord, to bring in no burden through 
the gates of this city on the sabbath-day, 
but hallow the sabbath-day, to do no work 
therein; Ver. 25. Then shall there enter 
into the gates of this city kings and 
princes sitting upon the throne of David, 
riding in chariots and on horses, they, and 
their princes, the men of Judah, and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city 
shall remain for ever. Ver. 26. And they 
shall come from the cities of Judah, and 
from the places about Jerusalem, and from 
the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, 
and from the mountains, and from the 
south, bringing burnt-offerings, and sacri- 
fices, and meat-offerings, and incense, and 
bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house 
of the Lord. Isa. lviii. 13. If thou turn 
away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing 
thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the 
sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, 



honourable; and shalt honour him, not 
doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own 
pleasure, nor speaking thine own words. 

62. s Exod. xx. 9, Six days shalt thou 
labour, and do all thy work. 

* Exod. xx. 11. For in six days the 
Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and 
all that in them is, and rested the seventh 
day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sab- 
bath-day, and hallowed it. 

63. v Exod. xx. 12. 

64. w Eph. v. 21. Submitting yourselves 
one to another in the fear of God. 

x 1 Pet. ii. 17. Honour all men. Love 
the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour tlie 
king. 

y Rom. xii. 10. Be kindly affectioned one 
to another with brotherly love; in honour 
preferring one another. 

65. z Matt. xv. 4. For God commanded, 
saying, Honour thy father and mother: 
and, He that curseth father or mother, let him 
die the death. Ver. 5. But ye say, Whoso- 
ever shall say to his father or his mother, 
It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest 
be profited by me, Ver. 6. And honour 
not his father or his mother, he shall be 

U 



306 THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 

Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth command- 
ment ? 

A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a 
promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve 
for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep 
this commandment . a 

Q. 67. Which is the sixth commandment ? 

A* The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill, h 

Q. 68. What is required in the sixth commandment ? 

A. The sixth commandment require th all lawful en- 
deavours to preserve our own life, and the life of others. d 

Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment ? 

A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away 
of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or 
whatsoever tendeth thereunto. 6 

Q. 70. Which is the seventh commandment ? 

A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not com- 
mit adultery. f 

Q. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment? 

A. The seventh commandment requireth the preserva- 
tion of our own and our neighbour's chastity, in heart, 
speech, and behaviour. g 

free. Thus have ye made the commandment with thee, and thou mayest live long on the 

of God of none effect by your tradition, earth. 

Ezek. xxxiv. 2. Son of man, prophesy 67. b Exod. xx. 13. 

against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, 68. c Eph. v. 28. So ought men to love 

and say unto them. Thus saith the Lord their wives as their own bodies: he that 

God unto the shepherds, Woe be to the loveth his wife loveth himself. Ver. 29. 

shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; 

should not the shepherds feed the flocks ? but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as 

Ver. 3. Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you the Lord the church. 

with the wool, ye kill them that are fed : a 1 Kings xviii. 4. For it was so, when 

but ye feed not the flock. Ver. 4. The dis- Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, 

eased have ye not strengthened, neither have that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and 

ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with 

bound up that which was broken, neither have bread and water. 

ye brought again that which was driven away, 69. e Acts xvi. 28. But Paul cried with 
neither have ye sought that which was lost; a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm; 
but with force and with cruelty have ye for we are all here. Gen. ix. 6. Wtioso 
ruled them. Rom. xiii. 8. Owe no man sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood 
any thing, but to love one another: for he be shed: for in the image of God made he 
that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. man. 

66. aDeut. v. 16. Honour thy father 70. f Exod. xx. 14. 
and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath 71. g 1 Cor.-vii. 2. Nevertheless, to avoid 
commanded thee ; that thy days may be pro- fornication, let every man have his own wife, 
longed, and that it may go well with thee, in and let every woman have her own hus- 
the land which the Lord thy God giveth band. Ver. 3. Let the husband render unto 
thee. Eph. vi. 2. Honour thy father and the wife due benevolence: and likewise also 
mother, (which is the first commandment the wife unto the husband. Ver. 5. Defraud 
with promise,) Ver. 3. That it may be well ye not one the other, except it be with con- 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



307 



Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment ? 

A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste 
thoughts, words, and actions. 11 

Q. 73. Which is the eighth commandment ? 

A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not 
steal} 

Q. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment? 

A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful pro- 
curing and furthering the wealth and outward estate of 
ourselves and others , k 

Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? 

A. The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth 



sent for a time, that ye may give your- 
selves to fasting and prayer; and come 
together again, that Satan tempt you not 
for your incontinency. Ver. 34. There is 
difference also between a wife and a vir- 
gin. The unmarried woman careth for 
the things of the Lord, that she may be holy 
both in body and in spirit: but she that is 
married careth for the things of the world, 
how she may please her husband. Ver. 
36. But if any man think that he behav- 
eth himself uncomely toward his virgin, 
if she pass the flower of her age, and need 
so require, let him do what he will, he 
sinneth not; let them marry. Col. iv. 6. 
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned 
with salt, that ye may know how ye ought 
to answer every man. 1 Pet. iii. 2. While 
they behold your chaste conversation coupled 
with fear. 

72. h Matt. xv. 19. For out of the heart 
proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, 
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphe- 
mies. Matt. v. 28. But I say unto you, 
That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust 
after her, hath committed adultery with her 
already in his heart. Eph. v. 3. But for- 
nication, and all uncleanness, or covetous- 
ness, let it not be once named among you, as 
becometh saints ; Ver. 4. Neither filthiness, 
nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are 
not convenient ; but rather giving of 
thanks. 

73. iExod. xx. 15. 

. 74. k Gen. xxx. 30. For it was little 
which thou hadst before I came, and it is 
now increased unto a multitude ; and the 
Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: 
and now, when shall 1 provide for mine own 
house also? 1 Tim. v. 8. But if any pro- 
vide not for his own, and specially for those 
of his own house, he hath denied the faith, 
and is worse than an infidel. Lev. xxv. 



35. And if thy brother be waxen poor, 
and fallen in decay with thee, then thou 
shalt relieve him; yea, though he be a stranger, 
or a sojourner : that he may live with thee. 
Deut. xxii. 1. Thou shalt not see thy 
brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and 
hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any 
case bring them again unto thy brother. Ver. 
2. And if thy brother be not nigh unto 
thee, or if thou know him not ; then thou 
shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it 
shall be with thee until thy brother seek 
after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. 
Ver. 3. In like manner shalt thou do with 
his ass, and so shalt thou do with his 
raiment; and with all lost thing of thy 
brother's, which he hath lost, and thou 
hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou 
mayest not hide thyself. Ver. 4, Thou 
shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox 
fall down by the way, and hide thyself 
from them; thou shalt surely help him to 
lift them up again. Ver. 5. The woman 
shall not wear that which pertaineth unto 
a man, neither shall a man put on a 
woman's garment : for all that do so are 
abomination unto the Lord thy G od. Exod. 
xxiii. 4. If thou meet thine enemy's ox or 
his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring 
it back to him again. Ver. 5. If thou see 
the ass of him that hateth thee lying under 
his burden, and wouldest forbear to help 
him: thou shalt surely help with him. Gen. 
xlvii. 14. And Joseph gathered up all the 
money that was found in the land of Egypt, 
and in the land of Canaan, for the corn 
lohich they bought: and Joseph brought the 
money into Pharaoh's house. Ver. 20. 
And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for 
Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every 
man his field, because the famine pre- 
vailed over them: so the land became 
Pharaoh's. 



308 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour's wealth 
or outward estate. 1 

Q. 76. Which is the ninth commandment ? 

A. The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false 
witness against thy neighbour. m 

Q. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment ? 

A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining 
and promoting of truth between man and man/ and of 
our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in 
witness-bearing. p 

Q. 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? 

A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is 
prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neigh- 
bour's good name. q 

Q. 79. Which is the tenth commandment ? 

A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy 
neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, 
nor his man-servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his 
ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's? 

Q. 80. What is required in the tenth commandment ? 

A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment 
with our own condition, 8 with a right and charitable frame 
of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his/ 

75. i Prov. xxi. 17. He that loveth Ver. 25. A true witness delivereth souls: 
pleasure shall be a poor man; he that but a deceitful witness speaketh lies, 
loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 78. * 1 Sam. xvii. 28. And Eliab his 
Prov. xxiii. 20. Be not among wine-bibbers ; eldest brother heard when he spake unto 
among riotous eaters of flesh: Ver. 21. For the men: and Eliab's anger was kindled 
the drunkard and the glutton shall come against David, and he said, Why earnest 
to poverty; and drowsiness shall clothe a thou down hither? and with whom hast 
man with rags. Prov. xxviii. 19. He that thou left those few sheep in the wilderness ? 
tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine 
but he that followeth after vain persons heart; for thou art come down that thou 
shall have poverty enough. Eph. iv. 28. mightest see the battle. Lev. xix. 16. Thou 
Let him that stole steal no more : but rather shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer 
let him labour, working with his hands the among thy people ; neither shalt thou stand 
thing which is good, that he may have to against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the 
give to him that needeth. Lord. Ps. xv. 3. He thatbackbiteth not with 

76. » Exod. xx. 16. Us tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, 
77 n Zech. viii. 16. These are the nor taketh up a reproach against his neigh- 

things that ye shall do, Speak ye every bour. 

man the truth to his neighbour; execute the 79. r Exod. xx. 17. 

judgment of truth and peace in your 80. s Heb. xiii. 5. Let your conversation 

gates. be without covetousness; and be content 

3 John, Ver. 12. Demetrius hath good with such things as ye have: for he hath 

report of all men, and of the truth itself: said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake 

yea, and we also bear record; and ye know thee. 1 Tim. vi. 6. But godliness with 

that our record is true. contentment is great gain. 

p Prov. xiv. 5. A faithful witness will not * Job xxxi. 29. If I rejoiced at the destrue- 

lie: but a false witness will utter lies. Hon of him that hated me, or lifted up myself 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



309 



Q. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? 

A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontent- 
ment with our own estate/ envying or grieving at the 
good of our neighbour/ and all inordinate motions and 
affections to any thing that is his. x 

Q. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the command- 
ments of God? 

A. So mere man since the fall is able in this life 
perfectly to keep the commandments of Grod/ but doth 
daily break them in thought, word, and deed. z 

Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous ? 

A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several 

out the law sin was dead. Eom. xiii. 9. 
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, 
Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, 
Thou shalt not hear false witness, Thou 
shalt not covet; and if there be any other 
commandment, it is briefly comprehended 
in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy 
neighbour as thyself. Deut. v. 21. Neither 
shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither 
shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his 
field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, 
his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy 
neighbour's. 

82. 7 Eccl. vii. 20. For there is not a 
just man upon earth, that doeth good, and 
sinneth not. 1 John i. 8. If we say that we 
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 
truth is not in us. Ver. 10. If we say that 
we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and 
his word is not in us. Gal. v. 17. For the 
flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit 
against the flesh : and these are contrary 
the one to the other; so that ye cannot do 
the things that ye would. 

z Gen. vi. 5. And God saw that the 
wickedness of man was great in the earth, 
and that every imagination of the thoughts of 
his heart was only evil continually. Gen. 
viii. 21. And the Lord smelled a sweet 
savour ; and the Lord said in his heart, I 
will not again curse the ground any more 
for man's sake ; for the imagination of man's 
heart is evil from his youth: neither will I 
again smite any more every thing living, 
as I have done. Rom. iii. 9. What then? 
are we better than they ? No, in no wise : 
for we have before proved both Jews and 
Gentiles, that they are all under sin. — And 
so on to Verse 21. James iii. 2. For in 
many things we offend all. If any man offend 
not in word, the same is a perfect man, and 
able also to bridle the whole body. — And 
so on to Verse 13. 



evil found him. Rom. xii. 15. Re- 
joice with them that do rejoice, and weep with 
them that weep. 1 Tim. i. 5. Now, the end 
of the commandment is charity, out of a pure 
heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith 
unfeigned. 1 Cor. xiii. 4. Charity suffer- 
eth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; 
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 
Ver. 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, 
seeketh not her own, is not easily pro- 
voked, thinketh no evil; Ver. 6. Re- 
joiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in 
the truth; Ver. 7. Beareth all things, 
believeth all things, hopeth all things, 
endureth all things. 

81. v 1 Kings xxi. 4. And Ahab came 
into his house heavy and displeased because 
of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite 
had spoken to him ; for he had said, I will 
not give thee the inheritance of my fathers : 
and he laid him down upon his bed, and 
turned away his face, and would eat no bread. 
Esther v. 13. Yet all this availeth me no- 
thing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sit- 
ting at the king's gate. 1 Cor. x. 10. 
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also 
murmured, and were destroyed of the de- 
stroyer. 

w Gal. v. 26. Let us not be desirous of 
vain-glory, provoking one another, envying 
one another. James iii. 14. But if ye have 
bitter envying and strife in your hearts, 
glory not, and lie not against the truth. 
Ver. 16. For where envying and strife 
is, there is confusion, and every evil 
work. 

x Rom. vii. 7. What shall we say then? 
Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had 
not known sin but by the law : for / had 
not known lust, except the law had said, Thou 
shalt not covet. Ver. 8. But sin, taking 
occasion by the commandment, wrought in 
me all manner of concupiscence. For with- 



310 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



aggravations. are more Heinous in the sight of God than 
others . a 

Q. 84. What doth every sin deserve ? 

A. Every sin deserveth God's wrath and curse, both in 
this life, and that which is to come. b 

Q. 85. What doth God require of us, that we may escape 
his wrath and curse due to us for sin ? 

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us 
for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repent- 
ance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward 
means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits 
of redemption." 1 

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ ? 

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, 6 whereby we 
receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is 
offered to us in the gospel/ 



83. a Ezek. viii. 6. He said furthermore 
unto me. Son of man, seest thou what they 
do? even the great abominations that the 
house of Israel committeth here, that I 
should go far off from my sanctuary? 
But turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see 
greater abominations. Ver. 18. He said 
also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and 
thou shalt see greater abominations that they 
do. Ver. 15. Then said he unto me, Hast 
thou seen this, son of man? Turn thee 
yet again, and thou shalt see greater abomin- 
ations than these. 1 John v. 16. If any 
man see his brother sin a sin which is not 
unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give 
him life for them that sin not unto death. 
There is a sin unto death; I do not say 
that he shall pray for it. Ps. lxxviii. 17. 
And they sinned yet more against him, by 
provoking the most High in the wilder- 
ness. Ver. 32. For all this they sinned 
still, and believed not for his wondrous works. 
Ver. 56. Yet they tempted and provoked 
the most high God, and kept not his testi- 
monies. 

84. b Eph. v. 6. Let no man deceive you 
with vain words : for because of these things 
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of 
disobedience. Gal. iii. 10. For as many as 
are of the works of the law are under the 
curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one 
that continueth not in all things which are 
written in the book of the law to do them. 
Lam. iii. 39. Wherefore doth a living man 
complain, a man for the punishment of his 
sins? Matt. xxv. 41. Then shall he say 
also unto them on the left hand, Depart 



from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, 
prepared for the devil and his angels. 

85. c Acts xx. 21. Testifying both to 
the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repent- 
ance toward God, and faith toward our Lord 
Jesus Christ. 

d Prov. ii. 1. My son, if thou wilt receive 
my words, and hide my commandments zcith 
thee; Ver. 2. So that thou incline thine 
ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to 
understanding; Ver. 3. Yea, if thou criest 
after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice 
for understanding ; Ver. 4. If thou seekest 
her as silver, and searchest for her as for 
hid treasures; Ver. 5. Then shalt thou 
understand the fear of the Lord, and find 
the knowledge of God. Prov. viii. 38. Hear 
instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 
Ver. 34. Blessed is the man that heareth 
me, watching daily at my gates, waiting 
at the posts of my doors. Ver. 35. For 
ivhoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain 
favour of the Lord. Ver. 36. But he that 
sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul : 
all they that hate me love death. Isa. lv. 
3. Incline your ear, and come unto me: 
hear, and your soul shall live; and I will 
make an everlasting covenant with you, 
even the sure mercies of David. 

86. e Heb. x. 39. But we are not of 
them who draw back unto perdition ; but 
of them that believe to the saving of the 
soul. 

f John i. 12. But as many as received him, 
to them gave he power to become the sons 
of God, even to them that believe on his 
name. Isa. xxvi. 3. Thou wilt keep him 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



311 



Q. 87- What is repentance unto life ? 

A. Bepentance unto life is a saving grace/ whereby a 
sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, h and apprehension of 
the mercy of God in Christ/ doth, with grief and hatred of 
his sin, turn from it unto God, k with full purpose of, and 
endeavour after, new obedience. 1 

Q. 88. What are the outward means whereby Christ com- 
municateth to us the benefits of redemption ? 

A, The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ 
communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his 
ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer; 
all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. m 



in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on 
thee; became he trusteth in thee. Ver. 4. 
Trust ye in the Lord for ever : for in the 
Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. 
Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not 
having mine own righteousness, which is 
of the law, hut that which is through the 
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is 
of God by faith. Gal. ii. 16. Knowing 
that a man is not justified by the works 
of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, 
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we 
might be justified by the faith of Christ, 
and not by the works of the law : for by 
the wo'rks of the law shall no flesh be justi- 
fied. 

87. g Acts xi. 18. When they heard 
these things, they held their peace, and 
glorified God, saying, Then hath God also 
to the Gentiles granted repentance unto 
life. 

h Acts ii. 37. Now when they heard this, 
they were pricked in their heart, and said 
unto Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, 
Men and brethren, what shall we do? 
Ver. 38. Then Peter said unto them, 
Repent, and be baptized every one of you 
in the name of Jesus Christ for the 
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the 
gift of the Holy Ghost. 

1 Joel ii. 1 2. Therefore also now, saith 
the Lord, Turn ye even to me with all 
your heart, and with fasting, and with 
weeping, and with mourning. Jer. iii. 
22. Return, ye backsliding children, and 
I will heal your backslidings. Behold, 
we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord 
our God. 

k Jer. xxxi. 18. I have surely heard 
Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou 
hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as 
a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : turn 
thou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou 



art the Lord my God. Ver. 19. Surely 
after that I was turned, I repented; and 
after that I was instructed, / smote upon 
my thigh: 1 was ashamed, yea, even con- 
founded, because I did bear the reproach 
of my youth. Ezek. xxxvi. 31. Then 
shall ye remember your own evil ways, 
and your doings that were not good, and 
shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, 
for your iniquities, and for your abomina- 
tions. 

i 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this self- 
same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly 
sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, 
yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what 
indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what 
vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what 
revenge! In all things ye have approved 
yourselves to be clear in this matter. Isa. 
i. 16. Wash you, make you clean; put 
away the evil of your doings from before 
mine eyes; cease to do evil; Ver. 17. Learn 
to do well; seek judgment; relieve the 
oppressed; judge the fatherless; plead 
for the widow. 

88. m Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, 
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 
of the Holy Ghost; Ver. 20. Teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I have 
commanded you : and, lo, I am with you 
alway, even unto the end of the world. 
Amen. Acts ii. 42. And they continued 
stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fel- 
lowship, and in breaking of bread, and in 
prayers. Ver. 46. And they, continuing 
daily with one accord in the temple, and 
breaking bread from house to house, did 
eat their meat with gladness and single- 
ness of heart, Ver. 47. Praising God, and 
having favour with all the people. And 
the Lord added to the church daily such as 
should be saved. 



312 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



Q 89. How is the word made effectual to salvation ? 

A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially 
the preaching of the word, an effectual means of con- 
vincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in 
holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation. 11 

Q. 90. How is the word to he read and heard, that it may 
become effectual to salvation ? 

A. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we 
must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation/ and 
prayer ; q receive it with faith and love/ lay it up in our 
hearts/ and practise it in our lives. fc 



89. n Neh. viii. 8. So they read in the 
book, in the law of God, distinctly, and gave 
the sense, and caused them to understand 
the reading. 1 Cor. xiv. 24. But if all 
prophesy, and there come in one that 
believeth not, or one unlearned, he is con- 
vinced of all, he is judged of all : Ver. 25. 
And thus are the secrets of his heart made 
manifest; and so, falling down on his 
face, he will worship God, and report that 
God is in you of a truth. Acts xxvi. 18. 
To open their eyes, and to turn them from 
darkness to light, and from the power of 
Satan unto God, that they may receive 
forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among 
them which are sanctified by faith that is 
in me. Ps. xix. 8. The statutes of the Lord 
are right, rejoicing the heart: the command- 
ment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the 
eyes. Acts xx. 32. And now, brethren, 
I commend you to God, and to the word of 
his grace, which is able to build you up, and 
to give you an inheritance among all them 
which are sanctified. Rom. xv. 4. For 
whatsoever things were written aforetime 
were written for our learning; that we, 
through patience and comfort of the scrip- 
tures, might have hope. 2 Tim. iii. 15. 
And that from a child thou hast known 
the holy scriptures, which are able to make 
thee wise unto salvation through faith which 
is in Christ Jesus. Ver. 16. All scripture 
is given by inspiration of God, and is 
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for cor- 
rection, for instruction in righteousness; Ver. 
17. That the man of God may be perfect, 
throughly furnished unto all good works. 
Rom. x. 13. For whosoever shall call upon 
the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ver. 
14. How then shall they call on him in 
whom they have not believed ? and how 
shall they believe in him of whom they have 
not heard? and how shall they hear without 
a preacher? Ver. 15. And how shall they 



preach except they be sent? as it is writ- 
ten, How beautiful are the feet of them 
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring 
glad tidings of good things! Ver. 16. But 
they have not all obeyed the gospel : for 
Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our 
report? Ver. 17. So then faith cometh 
by hearing, and hearing by the word of 
God. Rom. i. 16. For I am not ashamed 
of the gospel of Christ : for it is the power 
of God unto salvation to every one that 
believeth ; to the Jew first, and also to the 
Greek. 

90. Prov. viii. 34. Blessed is the man 
that heareth me, watching daily at my 
gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 

p 1 Pet. ii. 1. Wherefore, laying aside 
all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and 
envies, and all evil speakings, Ver. 2. As 
new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the 
word, that ye may grow thereby. 

<i Ps. cxix. 18. Open thou mine eyes, that 
I may behold wondrous things out of thy 
law. 

r Heb. iv. 2. For unto us was the gospel 
preached, as well as unto them : but the 
word preached did not profit them, not 
being mixed with faith in them that heard 
it. 2 Thess. ii. 10. And with all deceiv- 
ableness of unrighteousness in them that 
perish; because they received not the love of 
the truth, that they might be saved. 

s Ps. cxix. 11. Thy word have I hid in 
mine heart, that I might not sin against 
thee. 

1 Luke viii. 15. But that on the good 
ground are they, which in an honest and 
good heart, having heard the word, keep it, 
and bring forth fruit with patience. J ames 
i. 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect 
law of liberty, and continueth therein, he 
being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of 
the work, this man shall be blessed in his 
deed. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



313 



Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of 
salvation ? 

A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, 
not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer 
them ; but only by the blessing of Christ/ and the working 
of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them. w 

Q. 92. What is a sacrament ? 

A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by 
Christ ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits 
of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied 
to believers. x 

Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament ? 
A. The sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism/ 
and the Lord's supper. 55 
Q. 94. What is baptism ? 

A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with 
water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of 
the Holy Ghost/ doth signify and seal our ingrafting into 
Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of 
grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's. 5 

Q. 95. To whom is baptism to be administered? 

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are 

91. v 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure out. 1 Cor. xi. 28. For I have received 
whereunto even baptism doth also now of the Lord that which also I delivered 
save us, (not the putting away of the filth of unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same 
the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience night in which he was betrayed, took bread, 
toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, 
Christ. Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's 
with water unto repentance : but he that death till he come. 

cometh after me is mightier than I, whose 93. y Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, 

shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall and teach all nations, baptizing them in 

baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with the name of the Father, and of the Son, 

fire. 1 Cor. iii. 6. I have planted, Apol- and of the Holy Ghost, 
los watered ; but God gave the increase. 2 Matt. xxvi. 26. And as they were eat- 

Ver. 7. So then neither is he that planteth ing, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and 

any thing, neither he that watereth; but brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and 

God that giveth the increase. said, Take, eat ; this is my body. Ver. 27. 

w 1 Cor. xii. 13. For by one Spirit are we And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and 

all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of 

or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; it: Ver. 28. For this is my blood of the 

and have been all made to drink into one Spirit, new testament, which is shed for many for 

92. x Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish the remission of sins. 

my covenant between me and thee, and 94. a Matt, xxviii. 19. [See in letter y.] 
thy seed after thee, in their generations, b Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buried 

for an everlasting covenant, to be a God with him by baptism into death; that like 

unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Ver. as Christ was raised up from the dead by 

10. This is my covenant, which ye shall the glory of the Father, even so we also 

keep, between me and you, and thy seed should walk in newness of life. Gal. iii. 

after thee; Every man-child among you 27. For as many of you as have been baptized 

shall be circumcised. Exod. xii. through- into Christ have put on Christ. 



314 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in 
Christ, and obedience to him ; c but the infants of such as 
are members of the visible church are to be baptized/ 
Q. 96. What is the Lord's supper ? 

A. The Lord's supper is a sacrament, wherein, by 
giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's 
appointment, his death is shewed forth; and the worthy 
receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but 
by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all 
his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in 
grace. 6 

Q. 97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the 
Lord's supper ? 

A. It is required of them that would worthily partake 
of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their 
knowledge to discern the Lord's body/ of their faith to 
feed upon him, g of their repentance, 11 love, 1 and new 



95. c Acts viii. 36. And as they went 
on their way, they came unto a certain 
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is 
water; what doth hinder me to be bap- 
tized? Ver. 37. And Philip said, If thou 
believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. 
And he answered and said, I believe that 
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Acts ii. 
38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, 
and be baptized every one of you in the name 
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, 
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 
Ghost. 

a Acts ii. 38. [See before.] Ver. 39. 
For the promise is unto you, and to your 
children, and to all that are afar off, even 
as many as the Lord our God shall call. 
Gen. xvii. 10. [See in letter Compared 
with Col. ii. 11. In whom also ye are cir- 
cumcised with the circumcision made with- 
out hands, in putting off the body of the 
sins of the flesh by the circumcision of 
Christ; Ver. 12. Buried with him in bap- 
tism, wherein also ye are risen with him 
through the faith of the operation of God, 
who hath raised him from the dead. 1 Cor. 
vii. 14. For the unbelieving husband is 
sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving 
wife is sanctified by the husband: else 
were your children unclean; but now are 
they holy. 

96. e 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received 
of the Lord that which also I delivered 
unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same 
night in which he was betrayed, took 



bread : Ver. 24. And, when he had given 
thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; 
this is my body, which is broken for you : 
this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. 
After the same manner also he took the 
cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup 
is the new testament in my blood : this do 
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance 
of me. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat 
this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew 
the Lord's death till he come. 1 Cor. x, 16. 
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not 
the communion of the blood of Christ ? the 
bread which we break, is it not the commu- 
nion of the body of Christ? 

97. f 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man ex- 
amine himself, and so let him eat of that 
bread, and drink of that cup. Ver. 29. For 
he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, 
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, 
not discerning the Lord's body. 

« 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves, 
whether ye be in the faith : prove your own 
selves : know ye not your own selves, how 
that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be 
reprobates? 

h 1 Cor. xi. 31. For if we would judge 
ourselves, we should not be judged. 

»1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing 
which we bless, is it not the communion of 
the blood of Christ? the bread which we 
break, is it not the communion of the body 
of Christ ? Ver. 17. For we, being many, 
are one bread, and one body : for we are all 
partakers of that one bread. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



315 



obedience ; k lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink 
judgment to themselves. 1 
Q. 98. What is prayer ? 

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, m 
for things agreeable to his will, n in the name of Christ, 
with confession of our sins, p and thankful acknowledgment 
of his mercies. q 

Q. 99. What rule hath God given for our direction in 
prayer ? 

A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in 
prayer; 1 * but the special rule of direction is that form of 
prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called 
The Lord's prayer. 5 

Q. 100. What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer 
teach us ? 

A. The preface of the Lord's prayer (which is, Our 
Father which art in heaven fc ) teacheth us to draw near to 
God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to 
a father, able and ready to help us ; v and that we should 
pray with and for others. w 



k 1 Cor. v. 7. Purge out therefore the 
old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as 
ye are unleavened. For even Christ our 
passover is sacrificed for us: Ver. 8. 
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with 
old leaven, neither with the leaven of 
malice and wickedness; but with the un- 
leavened bread of sincerity and truth. 

1 1 Cor. xi. 28, 29. [See in letter f .] 

98. n> Ps. lxii. 8. Trust in him at all 
times; ye people, pour out your heart before 
him : God is a refuge for us. Selah. 

n 1 John v. 14. And this is the confi- 
dence that we have in him, that, if we ask 
any thing according to his will, he heareth us. 

° John xvi. 23. And in that day ye shall 
ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say 
unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father 
in my name, he will give it you. 

p Ps. xxxii. 5. / acknowledged my sin 
unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not 
hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions 
unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the 
iniquity of my sin. Selah. Ver. 6. For 
this shall every one that is godly pray unto 
thee in a time when thou mayest be found: 
surely in the floods of great waters they 
shall not come nigh unto him. Dan. ix. 
4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, 
and made my confession, and said, Lord, 
the great and dreadful God, keeping the 



covenant and mercy to them that love 
him, and to them that keep his command- 
ments. 

q Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing : 
but in every thing by prayer and supplica- 
tion, with thanksgiving, let your requests 
be made known unto God. 

99. r l John v. 14. And this is the 
confidence that we have in him, that, if 
we ask any thing according to his will, he 
heareth us. 

s Matt. vi. 9-13. After this manner 
therefore pray ye: Our Father, etc. 
Compared with Luke xi. 2, 3, 4. And he 
said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our 
Father, etc. 

100. j Matt. vi. 9. 

v Eom. viii. 15. For ye have not received 
the spirit of bondage again to fear ; but 
ye have received the spirit of adoption, 
whereby we cry, Abba, Father. Luke xi. 
13. If ye then, being evil, know how to 
give good gifts unto your children ; how 
much more shall your heavenly Father give 
the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ? 

* Acts xii. 5. Peter therefore was kept 
in prison ; but prayer was made without 
ceasing of the church unto God for him. 
1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, 
first of all, supplications, prayers, inter- 
cessions, and giving of thanks, be made for 



316 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



Q. 101. What do ice pray for in the first petition ? 

A, In the first petition (which is, Hallowed he thy 
name*) we pray, That God would enable us and others 
to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself 
known; 7 and that he would dispose all things to his 
own glory. 2 

Q. 102. What do ice pray for in the second petition? 

A. In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come*^) 
we pray, That Satan's kingdom may be destroyed ; b and 
that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves 
and others brought into it, and kept in it ; d and that the 
kingdom of glory may be hastened. 6 

Q. 103. What do we pray for in the third petition ? 

A, In the third petition (which is, Thy trill be done 
in earth, as it is in heaven 1 } we pray, That G-od, by his 
grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, 
and submit to his will in all things/ as the angels do in 
heaven. 11 



all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that 
are in authority; that we may lead a quiet 
and peaceable life in all godliness and 
honesty. 

101. * Matt. vi. 9. 

y Ps. lxvii. 2. That thy way may be 
known upon earth, thy saving health 
among all nations. Yer. 8. Let the people 
praise thee, God; let all the people praise 
thee. 

* Ps. lxxxiii. throughout. 

102. a Matt. vi. 10. 

d Ps. lxviii. 1 . Let God arise, let his 
enemies be scattered: let them also that hate 
him flee before him. Ver. 18. Thou hast 
ascended on high, thou hast led captivity 
captive: thou hast received gifts for men ; 
yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord 
God might dwell among them. 

c Rev. xii. 10. And I heard a loud voice 
saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, 
and strength, and the kingdom of our God, 
and the power of his Christ : for the ac- 
cuser of our brethren is cast down, which 
accused them before our God day and 
night Ver. 1 1 . And they overcame him 
by the blood of the Lamb, and by the 
word of their testimony ; and they loved 
not their lives unto the death. 

d 2 Thess. iii. 1. Finally, brethren, pray 
for us, that the word of the Lord may have 
free course, and be glorified, even as it is 
with you. Eom. x. V. Brethren, my 
heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel 



is, that they might be saved. John xvii. 9. 
/ pray for them : I pray not for the world, 
but for them which thou hast given me ; 
for they are thine. Ver. 20. Neither 
pray L for these alone, but for them also 
which shall believe on me through their 
word. 

e Rev. xxii. 20. He which testifieth 
these things saith, Surely I come quickly: 
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

103. fMatt. vi. 10. 

g Ps. lxvii, throughout. Ps. cxix. 36. 
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and 
not to covetousness. Matt. xxvi. 39. And 
he went a little farther, and fell on his 
face, and prayed, saying, my Father, if 
it be possible, let this cup pass from me : 
nevertheless, not as I mil, but as thou wilt. 
2 Sam. xv. 25. And the king said unto 
Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into 
the city ; if I shall find favour in the eyes 
of the Lord, he will bring me again, and 
shew me both it and his habitation. Job 
i. 21. And (Job) said, Naked came I out 
of my mother's womb, and naked shall I 
return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord 
hath taken away; blessed be the name of the 
Lord. 

b Ps. ciii. 20. Bless the Lord, ye his 
angels, that excel in strength, that do his 
commandments, hearkening unto the voice of 
his word. Ver. 21. Bless ye the Lord, all 
ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his 
pleasure. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM, 317 
* 

Q. 104. What do we pray for in the fourth petition? 

A. In the fourth petition (which is, Give us this day our 
daily bread ^ we pray, That of God's free gift we may 
receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, 
and enjoy his blessing with them. k 

Q. 105. What do we pray for in the fifth petition ? 

A. In the fifth petition (which is, And, forgive us our 
debts, as we forgive our debtors 1 ^) we pray, That God, for 
Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins ; m which we 
are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we 
are enabled from the heart to forgive others. 11 

Q. 106. What do we pray for in the sixth petition ? 

A. In the sixth petition (which is, And lead us not into 
temptation, but deliver us from evil °) we pray, That God 
would either keep us from being tempted to sin, p or support 
and deliver us when we are tempted. q 

Q. 107. What doth the conclusion of the Lord's prayer 
teach us ? 

A. The conclusion of the Lord's prayer (which is, For 
thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, 
Amen r ) teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer 

104. i Matt. vi. 11. is desolate, for the Lord's sake. Ver. 18. 
k Prov. xxx. 8. Remove far from me O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; 

vanity and lies; give me neither poverty open thine eyes, and behold our desola- 

nor riches; feed me with food convenient for tions, and the city which is called by thy 

me: Ver. 9. Lest I be full, and deny thee, name : for we do not present our suppli- 

and say, Who is the Lord ? or lest I be cations before thee for our righteousness, 

poor, and steal, and take the name of my but for thy great mercies. Ver. 19. O 

God in vain. Gen. xxviii. 20. And Jacob Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, 

vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with hearken and do; defer not, for thine own 

me, and will keep me in this way that I sake, O my God: for thy city and thy 

go, and will give me bread to eat, and rai- people are called by thy name. 
ment to put on. 1 Tim. iv. 4. For every n Luke xi. 4. And forgive us our sins : 

creature of God is goodj and nothing to be for we also forgive every one that is indebted 

refused, if it be received with thanks- to us. Matt, xviii. 85. So likewise shall 

giving: Ver. 5. For it is sanctified by the my heavenly Father do also unto you, if 

word of God and prayer. ye from your hearts forgive not every one his 

105. 1 Matt. vi. 12. brother their trespasses. 
m Ps. li. 1. Eave mercy upon me, O God, 106. Matt. vi. 13. 

according to thy loving-kindness ; accord- p Matt, xxvi. 41. Watch and pray, that 

ing unto the multitude of thy tender mer- ye enter not into temptation: the spirit in- 

cies blot out my transgressions. Ver. 2. deed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and i 2 Cor. xii. 7. And lest I should be 

cleanse me from my sin. Ver. 7. Purge me exalted above measure through the abun- 

with hyssop, and I shall be clean ; wash me, dance of the revelations, there was given 

and I shall be whiter than snow. Ver. 9. to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger 

Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be 

mine iniquities. Dan. ix. 17. Now there- exalted above measure. Ver. 8. For this 

fore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy thing 1 besought the Lord thrice, that it 

servant, and his supplications, and cause might depart from me. 

thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that 107. r Matt. vi. 13. 



318 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



from God only, 3 and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing 
kingdom, power, and glory to him.* And, in testimony 
of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, AmenJ 



s Dan. ix. 4. And I prayed unto the 
Lord my God, and made my confession, 
and said, Lord, the great and dreadful 
God, keeping the covenant and mercy to 
them that love him, and to them that keep 
his commandments. Ver. 7. Lord, 
righteousness belongeth unto thee, but 
unto us confusion of faces, as at this day ; 
to the men of Judah, and to the inhabi- 
tants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, 
that are near, and that are far off, through 
all the countries whither thou hast driven 
them, because of their trespass that they 
have trespassed against thee. Ver. 8. 
Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to 
our kings, to our princes, and to our fa- 
thers, because we have sinned against thee. 
Ver. 9. To the Lord our God belong mercies 
and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled 
against him. Ver. 16. Lord, according 
to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let 
thine anger and thy fury be turned away 
from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy moun- 
tain: because for our sins, and for the 
iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and 
thy people are become a reproach to all 
that are about us. Ver. 17. Now there- 
fore, our God, hear the prayer of thy 
servant, and his supplications, and cause 
thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that 
is desolate, for the Lord's sake. Ver. 18. 
my God, incline thine ear, and hear; 
open thine eyes, and behold our desola- 
tions, and the city which is called by thy 



name : for we do not present our supplica- 
tions before thee for our righteousnesses, 
but for thy great mercies. Ver. 19. Lord, 
hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, hearken 
and do ; defer not, for thine own sake, my 
God : for thy city and thy people are called 
by thy name. 

* 1 Chron. xxix. 10. Wherefore David 
blessed the Lord before all the congre- 
gation : and David said, Blessed be thou, 
Lord God of Israel our father, for ever 
and ever. Ver. 11. Thine, Lord, is the 
greatness, and the power, and tlie glory, and 
the victory, and the majesty: for all that is 
in the heaven and in the earth is thine ; 
thine is the kingdom, Lord, and thou 
art exalted as head above alL Ver. 12. 
Both riches and honour come of thee, and 
thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is 
power and might; and in thine hand it is 
to make great, and to give strength unto 
all. Ver. 13. Now therefore, our God, 
we thank thee, and praise thy glorious 
name. 

T 1 Cor. xiv. 16. Else, when thou shalt 
bless with the spirit, how shall he that oc- 
cupieth the room of the unlearned say 
Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he 
understandeth not what thou sayest ? Rev. 
xxii. 20. He which testifieth these things 
saith, Surely I come quickly : Amen. Even 
so, come, Lord Jesus. Ver. 21. The grace 
of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 
Amen. 



THE SHORTER CATECHISM. 



319 



THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. 
Exod. xx. 

GOD spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee 
out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 

I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing 
that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under 
the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord 
thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto 
the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto 
thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

HI. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain : for the Lord will 
not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 

IV. Remember the sabbath-day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and 
do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou 
shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy 
maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six 
days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the 
seventh day : wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed it. 

V. Honour thy father and thy mother; that thy days may be long upon the land 
which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

VI. Thou shalt not kill. 

VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

VIII. Thou shalt not steal. 

IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's 
wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid -servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any 
thing that is thy neighbour's. 

THE LORD'S PRAYER. 
Matt. vi. 

OUR Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into tempta- 
tion; but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the 
glory, for ever. Amen. 

THE CREED. 

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus 
Christ, his only Son, our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of 
the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried : he 
* r f i\ descended i^o hell ; * the third day he arose again from the dead ; 
in th/'state of tfie ne ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the 
dead, and under Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and 

till Ehird t*y h tne dead - 1 believe in the Hol y Ghost ; the hol y catholick church; 

the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection 
of the body ; and the life everlasting. Amen. 



SO much of every question, both in the Larger and Shorter Catechism, is repeated 
in the answer, as maketh every answer an entire proposition or sentence in itself ; 
to the end the learner may further improve it upon all occasions, for his increase in 
knowledge and piety, even out of the course of catechising, as well as in it. 

And albeit the substance of the doctrine comprised in that abridgment, commonly 
called The Apostles 7 Creed, be fully set forth in each of the Catechisms, so as there is 
no necessity of inserting the Creed itself ; yet it is here annexed, not as though it were 
composed by the Apostles, or ought to be esteemed canonical scripture, as the Ten 
Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer, (much less a prayer, as ignorant people have 
been apt to make both it and the Decalogue,) but because it is a brief sum of the 
Christian faith, agreeable to the word of God, and anciently received in the churches 
of Christ. 



THE 

SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE: 

OR, 

A BRIEF SUM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, 

CONTAINED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, AND HOLDEN FORTH 
IN THE FORESAID CONFESSION OF FAITH 
AND CATECHISMS; 

TOGETHER WITH 

THE PRACTICAL USE THEREOF. 



John vi. 37. — All that the Father giveth me shall come to me ; and him that 
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 



X 



THE CONTENTS 

OF 

THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



HEADS. 

I. Our woeful condition by nature. 

II. The remedy provided in Christ 

Jesus. 

III. The means provided in the covenant 

of grace. 

IV. The blessings conveyed by these 

means. 

The Use of Saving Knowledge. 

1. For convincing of sin by the law. 

2. Of righteousness by the law. 

3. Of judgment by the law. 

4. For convincing of sin, righteousness, 

and judgment by the gospel. 
Of righteousness to be had only by faith 

in Christ. 
For strengthening a man's faith, &c. 



Warrants and Motives to believe. 

1. God's hearty invitation. 

2. His earnest request to be reconciled. 

3. His command, charging all to believe. 

4. Much assurance of life given to be- 

lievers, &c. 

Evidences of true Faith. 

1. Conviction of the believer's obligation 

to keep the moral law. 

2. That the believer practise the rules of 

godliness and righteousness. 

3. That obedience to the law run in the 

right channel of faith in Christ. 

4. The keeping of strait communion with 

Christ the fountain of all grace and 
good works. 
For strengthening the believer in faith 
and obedience, by these evidences. 



THE 

SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE, &o. 



The Sum of Saving Knowledge may be taken up in these four heads : 1. The woeful 
condition wherein all men are by nature, through breaking of the covenant of 
works. 2. The remedy provided for the elect in Jesus Christ by the covenant 
of grace. 3. The means appointed to make them partakers of this covenant. 
4. The blessings which are effectually conveyed unto the elect by these means. 
— Which four heads are set down each of them in some few propositions. 

HEAD I. 

Our woeful condition by nature, through breaking the covenant of works. Hos. xiii. 9. 
Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself. 

I. npHE almighty and eternal God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
X Ghost, three distinct persons in the one and the same undivided 
Godhead, equally infinite in all perfections, did, before time, most wisely 
decree, for his own glory, whatsoever cometh to pass in time : and doth 
most holily and infallibly execute all his decrees, without being partaker 
of the sin of any creature. 

II. This God, in six days, made all things of nothing, very good in 
their own kind : in special, he made all the angels holy ; and he made 
our first parents, Adam and Eve, the root of mankind, both upright and 
able to keep the law written in their heart. "Which law they were na- 
turally bound to obey under pain of death ; but God was not bound to 
reward their service, till he entered into a covenant or contract with 
them, and their posterity in them, to give them eternal life, upon condi- 
tion of perfect personal obedience ; withal threatening death in case they 
should fail. This is the covenant of works. 

III. Both angels and men were subject to the change of their own free- 
will, as experience proved, (God having reserved to himself the incom- 
municable property of being naturally unchangeable : ) for many angels 
of their own accord fell by sin from their first estate, and became devils. 
Our first parents, being enticed by Satan, one of these devils speaking in 
a serpent, did break the covenant of works, in eating the forbidden fruit ; 
whereby they, and their posterity, being in their loins, as branches in the 
root, and comprehended in the same covenant with them, became not 
only liable to eternal death, but also lost all ability to please God ; yea, 
did become by nature enemies to God, and to all spiritual good, and in- 
clined only to evil continually. This is our original sin, the bitter root 
of all our actual transgressions, in thought, word, and deed. 



324 



THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



HEAD H. 

The remedy provided in Jesus Christ for the elect by the covenant of grace. Hos. xiii. 9. 
Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself ; but in me is thine help. 

I. A LBEIT man, having brought himself into this woeful condition, be 
l\- neither able to help himself, nor willing to be helped by God out 
of it, but rather inclined to lie still, insensible of it, till he perish ; yet 
God, for the glory of his rich grace, hath revealed in his word a way to 
save sinners, ma. by faith in Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, by 
virtue of, and according to the tenor of the covenant of redemption, made 
and agreed upon between God the Father and God the Son, in the coun- 
cil of the Trinity, before the world began. 

II. The sum of the covenant of redemption is this : God having freely 
chosen unto life a certain number of lost mankind, for the glory of his 
rich grace, did give them, before the world began, unto God the Son, 
appointed Redeemer, that, upon condition he would humble himself so 
far as to assume the human nature, of a soul and a body, unto personal 
union with his divine nature, and submit himself to the law, as surety for 
them, and satisfy justice for them, by giving obedience in their name, 
even unto the suffering of the cursed death of the cross, he should ransom 
and redeem them all from sin and death, and purchase unto them righte- 
ousness and eternal life, with all saving graces leading thereunto, to be 
effectually, by means of his own appointment, applied in due time to every 
one of them. This condition the Son of God (who is Jesus Christ our 
Lord) did accept before the world began, and in the fulness of time came 
into the world, was born of the Virgin Mary, subjected himself to the 
law, and completely paid the ransom on the cross : But by virtue of the 
foresaid bargain, made before the world began, he is in all ages, since the 
fall of Adam, still upon the work of applying actually the purchased 
benefits unto the elect ; and that he doth by way of entertaining a cove- 
nant of free grace and reconciliation with them, through faith in himself; 
by which covenant, he makes over to every believer a right and interest 
to himself, and to all his blessings. 

III. For the accomplishment of this covenant of redemption, and mak- 
ing the elect partakers of the benefits thereof in the covenant of grace, 
Christ Jesus was clad with the threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and 
King: made a Prophet, to reveal all saving knowledge to his people, 
and to persuade them to believe and obey the same; made a Priest, 
to offer up himself a sacrifice once for them all, and to intercede continu- 
ally with the Father, for making their persons and services acceptable to 
him; and made a King, to subdue them to himself, to feed and rule 
them by his own appointed ordinances, and to defend them from their 
enemies. 

HEAD III. 

The outward means appointed to make the elect partakers of this covenant, and all the rest 
that are called, to be inexcusable. Matt. xxii. 14. Many are called. 

I. rilHE outward means and ordinances, for making men partakers of the 
JL covenant of grace, are so wisely dispensed, as that the elect shall 
be infallibly converted and saved by them ; and the reprobate, among 
whom they are, not to be justly stumbled. The means are especially 



THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



325 



these four. 1. The word of God. 2. The sacraments. 3. Kirk-govern- 
ment. 4. Prayer. In the word of God preached by sent messengers, 
the Lord makes offer of grace to all sinners, upon condition of faith in 
Jesus Christ; and whosoever do confess their sin, accept of Christ 
offered, and submit themselves to his ordinances, he will have both them 
and their children received into the honour and privileges of the cove- 
nant of grace. By the sacraments, God will have the covenant sealed 
for confirming the bargain on the foresaid condition. By kirk-govern- 
ment, he will have them hedged in, and helped forward unto the keeping 
of the covenant. And by prayer, he will have his own glorious grace, 
promised in the covenant, to be daily drawn forth, acknowledged, and 
employed. All which means are followed either really, or in profession 
only, according to the quality of the covenanters, as they are true or 
counterfeit believers. 

II. The covenant of grace, set down in the Old Testament before 
Christ came, and in the New since he came, is one and the same in sub- 
stance, albeit different in outward administration : For the covenant in 
the Old Testament, being sealed with the sacraments of circumcision and 
the paschal lamb, did set forth Christ's death to come, and the benefits 
purchased thereby, under the shadow of bloody sacrifices, and sundry 
ceremonies : but since Christ came, the covenant being sealed by the sac- 
raments of baptism and the Lord's supper, doth clearly hold forth Christ 
already crucified before our eyes, victorious over death and the grave, and 
gloriously ruling heaven and earth, for the good of his own people. 

HEAD IV. 

The blessings which are effectually conveyed by these means to the Lord's elect, or chosen 
ones. Matt. xxii. 14. Many are called, but few are chosen. 

I. T)Y these outward ordinances, as our Lord makes the reprobate inex- 
-D cusable, so, by the power of his Spirit, he applies unto the elect, 
effectually, all saving graces purchased to them in the covenant of re- 
demption, and maketh a change in their persons. In particular, 1. He 
doth convert or regenerate them, by giving spiritual life to them, in 
opening their understandings, renewing their wills, affections, and facul- 
ties, for giving spiritual obedience to his commands. 2. He gives them 
saving faith, by making them, in the sense of deserved condemnation, to 
give their consent heartily to the covenant of grace, and to embrace Jesus 
Christ unfeignedly. 3. He gives them repentance, by making them, 
with godly sorrow, in the hatred of sin, and love of righteousness, turn 
from all iniquity to the service of God. And, 4. He sanctifies them, by 
making them go on and persevere in faith and spiritual obedience to the 
law of God, manifested by fruitfulness in all duties, and doing good 
works, as God offereth occasion. 

II. Together with this inward change of their persons, God changes 
also their state : for, so soon as they are brought by faith into the cove- 
nant of grace, 1. He justifies them, by imputing unto them that perfect 
obedience which Christ gave to the law, and the satisfaction also which 
upon the cross Christ gave unto justice in their name. 2. He reconciles 
them, and makes them friends to God, who were before enemies to God. 
3. He adopts them, that they shall be no more children of Satan, but 
children of God, enriched with all spiritual privileges of his sons. And, 



326 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



last of all, after their warfare in this life is ended, he perfects the holiness 
and blessedness, first of their souls at their death, and then both of their 
souls and their bodies, being joyfully joined together again in the resur- 
rection, at the day of his glorious coming to judgment, when all the 
wicked shall be sent away to hell, with Satan whom they haye served : 
but Christ's own chosen and redeemed ones, true believers, students of 
holiness, shall remain with himself for ever, in the state of glorification. 



THE 

PRACTICAL USE OF SAYING KNOWLEDGE, 

Contained in ScRrPiuEE, and holden forth briefly in the foresaid Confession of Faith 

and Catechisms. 

rr\HE chief general use of Christian doctrine is, to convince a man of 
_L sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment, John xvi. 8. partly by 
the law or covenant of works, that he may be humbled and become peni- 
tent ; and partly by the gospel or covenant of grace, that he may become 
an unfeigned believer in Jesus Christ, and be strengthened in his faith 
upon solid grounds and warrants, and give evidence of the truth of his 
faith by good fruits, and so be saved. 

The sum of the covenant of works, or of the law, is this : " If thou do 
" all that is commanded, and not fail in any point, thou shalt be saved : 
" but if thou fail, thou shalt die." Eom. x. 5. Gal. iii. 10, 12. 

The sum of the gospel, or covenant of grace and reconciliation, is this : 
" If thou flee from deserved wrath to the true Redeemer Jesus Christ, 
'*' (who is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God through 
'*' him,) thou shalt not perish, but have eternal life." Rom. x. 8, 9, 11. 

For convincing a man of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment by the 
law, or covenant of works, let these scriptures, among many more, be 
made use of. 

I. For convincing a man of sin by the law, consider Jer. xvii. 9, 10. 

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked ; who can 
know it '? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every 
man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 

Here the Lord teacheth these two things : 

1. That the fountain of all our miscarriage, and actual sinning against 
God, is in the heart, which comprehendeth the mind, will, affections, and 
all the powers of the soul, as they are corrupted and defiled with original 
sin : the mind being not only ignorant and incapable of saving truth, but 
also full of error and enmity against God ; and the will and affections 
bjing obstinately disobedient unto all God's directions, and bent toward 
that only which is evil : " The heart (saith he) is deceitful above all 
" things, and desperately wicked;" yea, and unsearchably wicked, so that 
no man can know it; and Gen. vi. 5. " Every imagination of the thoughts 
" of man's heart is only evil continually," saith the Lord, whose testimony 
we must trust in this and all other matters ; and experience also may 
teach us, that, till God make us deny ourselves, we never look to God in 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 327 



any thing, but fleshly self-interest alone doth rule us, and move all the 
wheels of our actions. 

2. That the Lord bringeth our original sin, or wicked inclination, with 
all the actual fruits thereof, unto reckoning before his judgment-seat; 
"For he searcheth the heart, and trieth the reins, to give every man ac- 
" cording to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." 

Hence let every man reason thus : 

" What God and my guilty conscience beareth witness of, I am con- 
" vinced that it is true : 

" But God and my guilty conscience beareth witness, that my heart is 
" deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked ; and that all the 
" imaginations of my heart, by nature, are only evil continually : 

" Therefore I am convinced that this is true." 

Thus a man may be convinced of sin by the law. 

II. For convincing a man of righteousness by the law, consider Gal. iii. 10. 

As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is icrit- 
ten, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in 
the book of the law to do them. 

Here the apostle teacheth us three things : 

1. That, by reason of our natural sinfulness, the impossibility of any 
man's being justified by the works of the law is so certain, that whosoever 
do seek justification by the works of the law, are liable to the curse of 
God for breaking of the law ; " For as many as are of the works of the 
" law are under the curse," saith he. 

2. That, unto the perfect fulfilling of the law, the keeping of one or two 
of the precepts, or doing of some, or of all duties (if it were possible) for 
a time, is not sufficient; for the law requireth, that " a man continue in 
" all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." 

3. That, because no man can come up to this perfection, every man by 
nature is under the curse ; for the law saith, " Cursed is every one that 
" continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to 
" do them." 

Now, to be under the curse, comprehendeth all the displeasure of God, 
with the danger of the breaking forth more and more of his wrath upon 
soul and body, both in this life, and after death perpetually, if grace do 
not prevent the full execution thereof. 

Hence let every man reason thus : 

" Whosoever, according to the covenant of works, is liable to the curse 
" of God for breaking the law, times and ways out of number, cannot be 
"justified, or find righteousness by the works of the law: 

" But I, (may every man say,) according to the covenant of works, am 
" liable to the curse of God, for breaking the law times and ways without 
" number : 

" Therefore I cannot be justified, or have righteousness by the works 
"of the law." 

Thus may a man be convinced of righteousness, that it is not to be had 
by his own works, or by the law. 

III. For convincing a man of judgment by the law, consider 2 Thess. i. 7. 
The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, Yer. 



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THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



8. In flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that hioio not God, and that 
obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : Ver. 9. Who shall be punished 
with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory 
of his power; Ver. 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and 
to be admired in all them that believe. 

Wherein we are taught, that our Lord Jesus, who now offers to be 
Mediator for them who believe in him, shall, at the last day, come armed 
with flaming fire, to judge, condemn, and destroy all them who have not 
believed God, have not received the offer of grace made in the gospel, nor 
obeyed the doctrine thereof ; but remain in their natural state, under the 
law or covenant of works. 

Hence let every man reason thus : 

" What the righteous Judge hath forewarned me shall be done at the 
"last day, I am sure is just judgment: 

" But the righteous Judge hath forewarned me, that if I do not believe 
" God in time, and obey not the doctrine of the gospel, I shall be se- 
" eluded from his presence and his glory at the last day, and be tormented 
" in soul and body for ever: 

" Therefore I am convinced that this is a just judgment : 

" And I have reason to thank God heartily, who hath forewarned me 
u to flee from the wrath which is to come." 

Thus every man may be, by the law or covenant of works, convinced of 
judgment, if he shall continue under the covenant of works, or shall not 
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 

IV. For convincing a man of sin, righteousness, and judgment, by the 

gospel. 

As for convincing a man of sin, and righteousness, and judgment, 
by the gospel, or covenant of grace, he must understand three things : 
1. That not believing in Jesus Christ, or refusing of the covenant of grace 
offered in him, is a greater and more dangerous sin than all other sins 
against the law; because the hearers of the gospel, not believing in Christ, 
do reject God's mercy in Christ, the only way of freedom from sin and 
wrath, and will not yield to be reconciled to God. 2. Next, he must un- 
derstand, that perfect remission of sin, and true righteousness, is to be had 
only by faith in Jesus ; because God requireth no other conditions but 
faith ; and testifies from heaven, that he is well pleased to justify sinners 
upon this condition. 3. He must understand, that upon righteousness 
received by faith, judgment shall follow, on the one hand, to the destroy- 
ing of the works of the devil in the believer, and to the perfecting of the 
work of sanctification in him, with power : and that, upon refusing to 
take righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ, judgment shall follow, on the 
other hand, to the condemnation of the misbeliever, and destroying of 
him with Satan and his servants for ever. 

For this end, let these passages of scripture, among many others, serve 
to make the greatness of the sin of not believing in Christ appear ; or, to 
make the greatness of the sin of refusing of the covenant of grace offered 
to us, in the offering of Christ unto us appear, let the fair offer of grace 
be looked upon as it is made, Isa. lv. 3. Incline your ear, and come unto 
me, (saith the Lord:) hear, and your sold shall live; and I icill make an 
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. That is, If 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



329 



ye will believe me, and be reconciled to me, I will, by covenant, give unto 
you Christ, and all saving graces in him : repeated Acts xiii. 34. 

Again, consider, that this general offer in substance is equivalent to a 
special offer made to every one in particular ; as appeareth by the apostle's 
making use of it, Acts xvi. 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou 
shalt be saved, and thy house. The reason of which offer is given, John iii. 
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that 
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Seeing 
then this great salvation is offered in the Lord Jesus, whosoever be- 
lieveth not in him, but looks for happiness some other way, what doth he 
else but observe lying vanities, and forsake his own mercy, which he might 
have had in Christ ? Jonah ii. 8, 9. What doth he else but blaspheme 
Grod in his heart? as it is said, 1 John v. 10, 11. He that believeth not 
God hath made him a liar ; because he believeth not the record that God 
gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal 
life; and this life is in his Son. And that no sin against the law is like 
unto this sin, Christ testifies, John xv. 22. If I had not come and spoken 
unto them, they had not had sin ; but now they have no cloak for their sin. 
This may convince a man of the greatness of this sin of not believing in 
Christ. 

For convincing a man of righteousness to be had only by faith in Jesus 
Christ, consider how, Rom. x. 3, 4. 

It is said, that the Jews, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going 
about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto 
the righteousness of God, (and so they perished.) For Christ is the end of 
the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. And Acts xiii. 39. By 
him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be 
justified by the law of Moses. And 1 John i. 7. The blood of Jesus Christ 
his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

For convincing a man of judgment, if a man embrace this righteous- 
ness, consider 1 John iii. 8. For this purpose the Son of God was mani- 
fested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. And Heb. ix. 14. How 
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered 
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve 
the living God ? 

But if a man embrace not this righteousness, his doom is pronounced, 
John iii. 18, 19. He that believeth not is condemned already, because he has 
not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the 
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness 
rather than light. 

Hence let the penitent, desiring to believe, reason thus : 
" What doth suffice to convince all the elect in the world of the great- 
" ness of the sin of not believing in Christ, or refusing to flee to him for 
" relief from sins done against the law, and from wrath due thereto; and 
" what sufficeth to convince them that righteousness and eternal life is to 
" be had by faith in Jesus Christ, or by consenting to the covenant of 
" grace in him ; and what sufficeth to convince them of judgment to be 
" exercised by Christ, for destroying the works of the devil in a man, and 
" sanctifying and saving all that believe in him, may suffice to convince 
"me also : 

" But what the Spirit hath said, in these or other like scriptures, suf- 



330 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



" ficeth to convince the elect world of the foresaid sin, and righteousness, 
" and judgment: 

" Therefore what the Spirit hath said, in these and other like scrip- 
" tures, serveth to convince me thereof also.' , 

Whereupon let the penitent desiring to believe take with him words, 
and say heartily to the Lord, Seeing thou sayest, Seek ye my face ; my 
soul answereth unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek. I have hearkened 
unto the offer of an everlasting covenant of all saving mercies to be had 
in Christ, and I do heartily embrace thy offer. Lord, let it be a bargain ; 
Lord, I believe ; help my unbelief: Behold, I give myself to thee, to serve 
thee in all things for ever ; and I hope thy right hand shall save me : the 
Lord will perfect that which cdncerneth me : thy mercy, Lord, en- 
dureth for ever ; forsake not the works of thine own hands. 

Thus may a man be made an unfeigned believer in Christ. 

For strengthening the man's faith who hath agreed unto the covenant of 
grace. 

Because many true believers are weak, and do much doubt if ever 
they shall be sure of the soundness of their own faith and effectual call- 
ing, or made certain of their justification and salvation, when they see 
that many, who profess faith, are found to deceive themselves ; let us see 
how every believer may be made strong in the faith, and sure of his own 
election and salvation upon solid grounds, by sure warrants, and true 
evidences of faith. To this end, among many other scriptures, take these 
following. 

1. For laying solid grounds of Faith, consider 2 Peter i. 10. WJiere- 
fore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure : 
for if ye do these things ye shall never fall. 

In which words, the apostle teacheth us these four things, for help and 
direction how to be made strong in the faith. 

1. That such as believe in Christ Jesus, and are fled to him for relief 
from sin and wrath, albeit they be weak in the faith, yet they are indeed 
children of the same Father with the apostles ; for so he accounteth of 
them, while he calleth them brethren. 

2. That albeit we be not sure, for the time, of our effectual calling and 
election, yet we may be made sure of both, if we use diligence ; for this 
he presupposeth, saying, " Give diligence to make your calling and elec- 
tion sure." 

3. That we must not be discouraged, when we see many seeming be- 
lievers prove rotten branches, and make defection ; but we must the rather 
take the better heed to ourselves: "Wherefore the rather, brethren, 
" (saith he,) give all diligence." 

4. That the way to be sure both of our effectual calling and election, is 
to make sure work of our faith, by laying the grounds of it solidly, and 
bringing forth the fruits of our faith in new obedience constantly : " For 
"if ye do these things, (saith he,) ye shall never fall;" understanding 
by these things, what he had said of sound faith, Ver. 1, 2, 3, 4, and what 
he had said of the bringing out of the fruits of faith, Yer. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 

2. To this same purpose, consider Bom. viii. 1. There is therefore now 
no condemnation to them ivhich are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the 
flesh, but after the Spirit. Yer. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ 
Jesus hath made me free from the laio of sin and death. Yer. 3. For what the 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



331 



law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own 
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh ; 
Yer. 4. That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk 
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Wherein the apostle teacheth us these four things, for laying of the 
ground of faith solidly : 

1. That every one is a true believer, who, in the sense of his sin, and 
fear of God's wrath, doth flee for full relief from both unto Jesus Christ 
alone, as the only Mediator and all-sufficient Redeemer of men ; and, 
being fled to Christ, doth strive against his own flesh, or corrupt inclina- 
tion of nature, and studieth to follow the rule of God's Spirit, set down 
in his word : for the man, whom the apostle doth here bless as a true be- 
liever, is a man in Christ Jesus, "who doth not walk after the flesh, but 
« after the Spirit." 

2. That all such persons as are fled to Christ, and do strive against sin, 
howsoever they may be possibly exercised under the sense of wrath, and 
fear of condemnation, yet they are in no danger ; for " there is no con- 
" demnation (saith he) to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not 
" after the flesh, but after the Spirit." 

3. That albeit the apostle himself, (brought in here for example's cause,) 
and all other true believers in Christ, be by nature under the law of sin 
and death, or under the covenant of works, (called the law of sin and 
death, because it bindeth sin and death upon us, till Christ set us free ;) 
yet the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, or the covenant of grace, 
(so called, because it doth enable and quicken a man to a spiritual life 
through Christ,) doth set the apostle, and all true believers, free from the 
covenant of works, or the law of sin and death : so that every man may 
say with him, " The law of the Spirit of life," or the covenant of grace, 
" hath made me free from the law of sin and death," or covenant of works. 

4. That the fountain and first ground, from whence our freedom from 
the curse of the law doth flow, is the covenant of redemption, passed be- 
twixt God and God the Son as incarnate, wherein Christ takes the curse 
of the law upon him for sin, that the believer, who could not otherwise be 
delivered from the covenant of works, may be delivered from it. And 
this doctrine the apostle holdeth forth in these four branches : (1.) That 
it was utterly impossible for the law, or the covenant of works, to bring 
righteousness and life to a sinner, because it was weak. (2.) That this 
weakness and inability of the law, or covenant of works, is not the fault 
of the law, but the fault of sinful flesh, which is neither able to pay the 
penalty of sin, nor to give perfect obedience to the law, (presuppose by- 
gone sins were forgiven:) "The law was weak (saith he) through the 
" flesh." (3.) That the righteousness and salvation of sinners, which was 
impossible to be brought about by the law, is brought to pass by sending 
God's own Son, Jesus Christ, in the flesh, in whose flesh sin is condemned 
and punished, for making satisfaction in the behalf of the elect, that they 
might be set free. (4.) That by his means the law loseth nothing, be- 
cause the righteousness of the law is best fulfilled this way ; first, by 
Christ's giving perfect active obedience in our name unto it in all things ; 
next, by his paying in our name the penalty due to our sins in his death : 
and, lastly, by his working of sanctification in us, who are true believers, 
who strive to give new obedience unto the law, and " walk not after the 
" flesh, but after the Spirit." 



332 THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 

WARRANTS TO BELIEVE. 




OR building our confidence upon this solid ground, these four War- 
rants and" special Motives to believe in Christ may serve. 



The first whereof is God's hearty invitation, holden forth, Isa. lv. 1, 2, 
3,4,5. 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no 
money : come ye, buy and eat ; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, 
and without price. Ver. 2. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is 
not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? Hearken diligently 
unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soid delight itself in fat- 
ness. Yer. 3, Incline your ear, and come unto me : hear, and your soul 
shall live ; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure 
mercies of David. Yer. 4. Behold, I have given him for a witness to ilie 
people, a leader and commander to the people, etc. 

Here (after setting down the precious ransom of our redemption by the 
sufferings of Christ, and the rich blessings purchased to us thereby, in the 
two former chapters) the Lord, in this chapter, 

1. Maketh open offer of Christ and his grace, by proclamation of a free 
and gracious market of righteousness and salvation, to be had through 
Christ to every soul, without exception, that truly desires to be saved 
from sin and wrath : " Ho, every one that thirsteth," saith he. 

2. He inviteth all sinners, that for any reason stand at a distance from 
God, to come and take from him riches of grace, running in Christ as a 
river, to wash away sin, and to slocken wrath: " Come ye to the waters," 
saith he. 

3. Lest any should stand aback in the sense of his own sinfulness or un- 
worthiness, and inability to do any good, the Lord calleth upon such per- 
sons in special, saying, " He that hath no money, come/' 

4. He craveth no more of his merchant, but that he be pleased with the 
wares offered, which are grace, and more grace; and that he heartily con- 
sent unto, and embrace this offer of grace, that so he may close a bargain, 
and a formal covenant with God; " Come, buy without money, (saith he,) 
" come, eat :" that is, consent to have, and take unto you all saving graces; 
make the wares your own, possess them, and make use of all blessings in 
Christ; whatsoever maketh for your spiritual life and comfort, use and 
enjoy it freely, without paying any thing for it: " Come, buy wine and 
" milk without money, and without price," saith he. 

5. Because the Lord knoweth how much we are inclined to seek righte- 
ousness and life by our own performances and satisfaction, to have righte- 
ousness and life as it were by the way of works, and how loath we are to 
embrace Christ Jesus, and to take life by way of free grace through Jesus 
Christ, upon the terms whereupon it is offered to us ; therefore the Lord 
lovingly calls us off this our crooked and unhappy way with a gentle and 
timeous admonition, giving us to understand, that we shall but lose our 
labour in this our way : " Wherefore do ye spend your money (saith he) 
" for that which is not bread ? and your labour for that which satisfieth 
" not ? " 

6. The Lord promiseth to us solid satisfaction in the way of betaking 
ourselves unto the grace of Christ, even true contentment, and fulness of 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



333 



spiritual pleasure, saying, " Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that 
" which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." 

7. Because faith cometh by hearing, he calleth for audience unto the 
explication of the offer, and calleth for believing of, and listening unto 
the truth, which is able to beget the application of saving faith, and to 
draw the soul to trust in God : " Incline your ear, and come unto me," 
saith he. To which end, the Lord promises, that this offer being received, 
shall quicken the dead sinner; and that, upon the welcoming of this offer, 
he will close the covenant of grace with the man that shall consent unto 
it, even an indissolvable covenant of perpetual reconciliation and peace : 
" Hearken, and your soul shall live : and I will make an everlasting cove- 
" nant with you." Which covenant, he declareth, shall be in substance 
the assignation, and the making over, of all the saving graces which David 
(who is Jesus Christ, Acts xiii. 34.) hath bought for us in the covenant 
of redemption: "I will make a covenant with you, (saith he,) even the 
" sure mercies of David." By sure mercies, he means saving graces, such 
as are righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, adoption, sancti- 
fication, and glorification, and whatsoever belongs to godliness and life 
eternal. 

8. To confirm and assure us of the real grant of these saving mercies, 
and to persuade us of the reality of the covenant betwixt God and the 
believer of this word, the Father hath made a fourfold gift of his eternal 
and only begotten Son : 

First, To be incarnate and born for our sake, of the seed of David his 
type; for which cause he is called here, and Acts xiii. 34. David, the true 
and everlasting King of Israel. This is the great gift of God to man, 
John iv. 10. And here, I have given him to be David, or born of David, 
to the people. 

Secondly, He hath made a gift of Christ to be a witness to the people, 
both of the sure and saving mercies granted to the redeemed in the cove- 
nant of redemption ; and also of the Father's willingness and purpose to 
apply them, and to make them fast in the covenant of reconciliation made 
with such as embrace the offer : " I have given him (saith the Lord here) 
" to be a witness to the people." And truly he is a sufficient witness in 
this matter in many respects : 1st, Because he is one of the blessed Tri- 
nity, and party-contractor for us, in the covenant of redemption, before 
the world was. Idly, He is by office, as Mediator, the Messenger of the 
covenant, and hath gotten commission to reveal it. Sdly, He began actu- 
ally to reveal it in paradise, where he promised, that the seed of the 
woman should bruise the head of the serpent. Athly, He set forth his 
own death and sufferings, and the great benefits that should come thereby 
to us, in the types and figures of sacrifices and ceremonies before his com- 
ing, bthly, He gave more and more light about this covenant, speaking 
by his Spirit, from age to age, in the holy prophets, ftthly, He came him- 
self, in the fulness of time, and did bear witness of all things belonging to 
this covenant, and of God's willing mind to take believers into it; 'partly, 
by uniting our nature in one person with the divine nature; partly, by 
preaching the good tidings of the covenant with his own mouth ; partly, 
by paying the price of redemption on the cross ; and partly, by dealing 
still with the people, from the beginning to this day, to draw in, and to 
hold in the redeemed in this covenant. 

Thirdly, God hath made a gift of Christ, as a leader to the people, to 
bring us through all difficulties, all afflictions and temptations, unto life, 



334 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



by this covenant: and he it is, and no other, who doth indeed lead his 
own unto the covenant; and, in the covenant, all the way on unto salva- 
tion : 1. By the direction of his word and Spirit. 2. By the example of 
his own life, in faith and obedience, even to the death of the cross. 3. By 
his powerful working, bearing his redeemed ones in his arms, and causing 
them to lean on him, while they go up through the wilderness. 

Fourthly, God hath made a gift of Christ unto his people, as a com- 
mander : which office he faithfully exerciseth, by giving to his kirk and 
people laws and ordinances, pastors and governors, and all necessary 
officers; by keeping courts and assemblies among them, to see that his 
laws be obeyed ; subduing, by his word, Spirit, and discipline, his people's 
corruptions; and, by his wisdom and power, guarding them against all 
their enemies whatsoever. 

Hence he who hath closed bargain with God may strengthen his faith, 
by reasoning after this manner • 

" Whosoever doth heartily receive the offer of free grace, made here to 
" sinners, thirsting for righteousness and salvation : unto him, by an ever- 
" lasting covenant, belongeth Christ, the true David, with all his sure and 
" saving mercies : 

" But I (may the weak believer say) do heartily receive the offer of 
" free grace made here to sinners, thirsting for righteousness and salvation : 

" Therefore unto me, by an everlasting covenant, belongeth Christ 
" Jesus, with all his sure and saving mercies/' 

The second Warrant and special Motive to embrace Christ, and believe in 
him, is the earnest request that God maketh to us to be reconciled to 
him in Christ; holden forth, 2 Cor. v. 19, 20, 21. 
God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their 
trespasses unto them ; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 
Ver. 20. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did be- 
seech you by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. Yer. 
21. For lie hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might 
be made the righteousness of God in him. 

Wherein the apostle teacheth us these nine doctrines : 
L That the elect world, or world of redeemed souls, are by nature in 
the estate of enmity against God : this is presupposed in the word recon- 
ciliation; for reconciliation, or renewing of friendship, cannot be, except 
betwixt those that have been at enmity. 

2. That in all the time bypast, since the fall of Adam, Christ Jesus, the 
eternal Son of God, as Mediator, and the Father in him, hath been about 
the making friendship (by his word and Spirit) betwixt himself and the 
elect world: " God (saith he) was in Christ reconciling the world to him- 
" self." 

3. That the way of reconciliation was in all ages one and the same in 
substance, vis. by forgiving the sins of them who do acknowledge their 
sins and their enmity against God, and do seek reconciliation and remis- 
sion of sins in Christ : " For God (saith he) was in Christ reconciling the 
" world unto himself," by way of " not imputing their trespasses unto 
"them." 

4. That the end and scope of the gospel, and whole word of God, is 
threefold : (1.) It serveth to make people sensible of their sins, and of 
their enmity against God, and of their danger, if they should stand out, 
and not fear God's displeasure. (2.) The word of God serveth to make 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



335 



men acquainted with the course which God hath prepared for making 
friendship with them through Christ, viz. That if men shall acknowledge 
the enmity, and shall be content to enter into a covenant of friendship 
with God through Christ, then God will be content to be reconciled with 
them freely. (3.) The word of God serveth to teach men how to carry 
themselves towards God, as friends, after they are reconciled to him, viz. 
to be loath to sin against him, and to strive heartily to obey his command- 
ments : and therefore the word of God here is called the word of reconcili- 
ation, because it teacheth us what need we have of reconciliation, and how 
to make it, and how to keep the reconciliation of friendship, being made 
with God through Christ. 

5. That albeit the hearing, believing, and obeying of this word, doth 
belong to all those to whom this gospel doth come ; yet the office of 
preaching of it with authority belongeth to none, but to such only as God 
doth call to his ministry, and sendeth out with commission for this work. 
This the apostle holdeth forth, Yer. 19. in these words, " He hath com- 
" mitted to us the word of reconciliation." 

6. That the ministers of the gospel should behave themselves as Christ's 
messengers, and should closely follow their commission set down in the 
word, Matt, xxviii. 19, 20 ; and when they do so, they should be received 
by the people as ambassadors from God ; for here the apostle, in all their 
names, saith, " We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech 
" you by us." 

7. That ministers, in all earnestness of affections, should deal with 
people to acknowledge their sins, and their natural enmity against God, 
more and more seriously ; and to consent to the covenant of grace and 
embassage of Christ more and more heartily ; and to evidence more and 
more clearly their reconciliation, by a holy carriage before God. This he 
holdeth forth, when he saith, " We pray you, be ye reconciled to God." 

8. That in the ministers' affectionate dealing with the people, the 
people should consider that they have to do with God and Christ, re- 
questing them, by the ministers, to be reconciled. Now, there cannot be 
a greater inducement to break a sinner's hard heart, than God's making 
a request to him for friendship ; for when it became us, who have done so 
many wrongs to God, to seek friendship of God, he preventeth us : and 
(0 wonder of wonders!) he requesteth us to be content to be reconciled 
to him; and therefore most fearful wrath must abide them who do set 
light by this request, and do not yield when they hear ministers with 
commission, saying, " We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did 
" beseech you by us : we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to 
"God." 

9. To make it appear how it cometh to pass that the covenant of re- 
conciliation should be so easily made up betwixt God and a humble sinner 
fleeing to Christ, the apostle leads us unto the cause of it, holden forth in 
the covenant of redemption, the sum whereof is this : " It is agreed be- 
" twixt God and the Mediator Jesus Christ the Son of God, surety for the 
" redeemed, as parties contractors, that the sins of the redeemed should 

" be imputed to innocent Christ, and he both condemned and put to death * 
" for them, upon this very condition, that whosoever heartily consents 
" unto the covenant of reconciliation offered through Christ, shall, by the 
" imputation of his obedience unto them, be justified and holden righteous 
" before God; for God hath made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, 
" saith the apostle, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 



33G 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



Hence may a weak believer strengthen his faith, by reasoning from this 
ground after this manner : 

" He that, upon the loving request of God and Christ, made to him by 
" the mouth of ministers, (having commission to that effect,) hath em- 
" braced the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and doth 
" purpose, by God's grace, as a reconciled person, to strive against sin, 
" and to serve God to his power constantly, may be as sure to have righte- 
" ousness and eternal life given to him, for the obedience of Christ im- 
" puted to him, as it is sure that Christ was condemned and put to death 
" for the sins of the redeemed imputed to him: 

" But I (may the weak believer say) upon the loving request of God 
" and Christ, made to me by the mouth of his ministers, have embraced 
" the offer of perpetual reconciliation through Christ, and do purpose, by 
" God's grace, as a reconciled person, to strive against sin, and to serve 
" God to my power constantly : 

" Therefore I may be as sure to have righteousness and eternal life 
" given to me, for the obedience of Christ imputed to me, as it is sure 
" that Christ was condemned and put to death for the sins of the re- 
" deemed imputed to him." 

The third Warrant and special Motive to believe in Christ, is the strait 
and awful command of God, charging all the hearers of the gospel to 
approach to Christ in the order set down by him, and to believe in 
him ; holden forth, 1 John iii. 23. 
Tliis is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son 
Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 

Wherein the apostle giveth us to understand these five doctrines : 

1. That if any man shall not be taken with the sweet invitation of God, 
nor with the humble and loving request of God, made to him to be re- 
conciled, he shall find he hath to do with the sovereign authority of the 
highest Majesty; for " this is his commandment, that we believe in him," 
saith he. 

2. That if any man look upon this commandment as he hath looked 
heretofore upon the neglected commandments of the law, he must con- 
sider that this is a command of the gospel, posterior to the law, given for 
making use of the remedy of all sins; which, if it be disobeyed, there is 
no other command to follow but this, " Go, ye cursed, into the everlasting 
" fire of hell;" for "this is his commandment;" the obedience of which is 
most pleasant in his sight, Yer. 22. and without which it is impossible to 
please him, Heb. xi. 6. 

3. That every one who heareth the gospel, must make conscience of the 
duty of lively faith in Christ; the weak believer must not think it pre- 
sumption to do what is commanded ; the person inclined to desperation 
must take up himself, and think upon obedience unto this sweet and sav- 
ing command; the strong believer must dip yet more in the sense of his 
need he hath of Jesus Christ, and more and more grow in the obedience 
of this command; yea, the most impenitent, profane, and wicked person 
must not thrust out himself, or be thrust out by others, from orderly 
aiming at this duty, how desperate soever his condition seems to be ; for 
he that commands all men to believe in Christ, doth thereby command all 
men to believe that they are damned and lost without Christ : he thereby 
commands all men to acknowledge their sins, and their need of Christ, 
and in effect commands all men to repent, that they may believe in him. 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 337 



And whosoever do refuse to repent of their bygone sins, are guilty of dis- 
obedience to this command given to all hearers, but especially to those that 
are within the visible church: for "this is his commandment, that we 
" should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ," saith he. 

4. That he who obeyeth this commandment hath built his salvation on 
a solid ground : for, 1st, He hath found the promised Messiah, completely 
furnished with all perfections unto the perfect execution of the offices of 
Prophet, Priest, and King ; for he is that Christ in whom the man doth 
believe. 2d, He hath embraced a Saviour, who is able to save to the 
uttermost, yea, and who doth effectually save every one that cometh to 
God through him ; for he is Jesus, the true Saviour of his people from 
their sins. 3d, He that obeyeth this command hath built his salvation on 
the Rock, that is, on the Son of God, to whom it is no robbery to be 
called equal to the Father, and who is worthy to be the object of saving 
faith, and of spiritual worship : for " this is his command, (saith he) that 
" we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ." 

5. That he who hath believed on Jesus Christ, though he be freed from 
the curse of the law, is not freed from the command and obedience of the 
law, but tied thereunto by a new obligation, and a new command from 
Christ; which new command from Christ importeth help to obey the 
command: unto which command from Christ, the Father addeth his 
authority and command also; for " this is his commandment, (saith John,) 
" that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one 
" another, as he hath commanded us." The first part of which command, 
enjoining belief in him, necessarily implieth love to God, and so obedience 
to the first table; for believing in God, and loving God, are inseparable; 
and the second part of the command enjoineth love to our neighbour, 
(especially to the household of faith,) and so obedience to the second table 
of the law. 

Hence may a weak believer strengthen himself, by reasoning from this 
ground after this manner : 

" Whosoever, in the sense of his own sinfulness, and fear of God's wrath, 
" at the command of God, is fled to Jesus Christ, the only remedy of sin 
" and misery, and hath engaged his heart to the obedience of the law of 
" love, his faith is not presumptuous or dead, but true and saving faith : 

" But I, (may the weak believer say,) in the sense of my own sinfulness, 
"and fear of God's wrath, am fled to Jesus Christ, the only remedy of 
" sin and misery, and have engaged my heart to the obedience of the law 
" of love : 

" Therefore my faith is not a presumptuous and dead faith, but true and 
" saving faith." 

The fourth Warrant and special Motive to believe in Christ, is much assur- 
ance of life given, in case men shall obey the command of believing; 
and & fearful certification of destruction, in case they obey not; holden 
forth, John iii. 35. 

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. Ver. 
36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeih 
not the Son shall not see Ufa but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

Wherein are holden forth to us these five following doctrines : 
1. That the Father is well satisfied with the undertakings of the Son, 
entered Redeemer and Surety, to pay the ransom of believers and to per- 

Y 



338 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



feet them in holiness and salvation: " The Father loveth the Son," saith 
he ; viz. as he standeth Mediator in our name, undertaking to perfect our 
redemption in all points: The Father loveth him, that is, doth heartily 
accept his offer to do the work, and is well pleased with him : his soul 
delighteth in him, and resteth upon him, and maketh him, in this his office, 
the " receptacle of love, and grace, and good will," to be conveyed by him 
to believers in him. 

2. That, for fulfilling of the covenant of redemption, the Father hath 
given to the Son (as he standeth in the capacity of the Mediator, or as he 
is God incarnate, the Word made flesh) all authority in heaven and earth, 
all furniture of the riches of grace, and of spirit and life, with all power 
and ability, which the union of the divine nature with the human, or which 
the fulness of the Godhead dwelling substantially in his human nature, or 
which the indivisible all-sufficiency and omnipotency of the inseparable, 
every where present Trinity doth import, or the work of redemption can 
require : " The Father (saith he) hath given all things into the Son's 
" hand," to wit, for accomplishing his work. 

3. Great assurance of life is holden forth to all who shall heartily re- 
ceive Christ, and the offer of the covenant of grace and reconciliation 
through him : " He that believeth on the Son (saith he) hath everlasting 
" life;" for it is made fast unto him, 1st, In God's purpose and irrevocable 
decree, as the believer is a man elected to life. 2d, By effectual calling of 
him unto life by God, who, as he is faithful, so will he do it. 3c?, By 
promise and everlasting covenant, sworn by God, to give the believer 
strong consolation in life and death, upon immutable grounds. 4:th, By 
a pawn and infeftment under the great seal of the sacrament of the Lord's 
supper, so oft as the believer shall come to receive the symbols and pledges 
of life. 5th, In Christ the fountain and head of life, who is entered in 

* possession, as attorney for believers ; in whom our life is so laid up, that 
it cannot be taken away. 6th, By begun possession of spiritual life and 
regeneration, and a kingdom consisting in righteousness, peace, and" joy 
in the Holy Ghost, erected within the believer, as earnest of the full pos- 
session of everlasting life. 

4. A fearful certification is given, if a man receive not the doctrine 
concerning righteousness and eternal life to be had by Jesus Christ : 
" He that believeth not the Son shall not see life," that is, not so much as 
understand what it meaneth. 

5. He further certifieth, that if a man receive not the doctrine of the 
Son of God, he shall be burdened twice with the wrath of God ; once, as 
a born rebel by nature, he shall bear the curse of the law, or the covenant 
of works; and next, he shall endure a greater condemnation, in respect 
that light being come into the world, and offered to him, he hath rejected 
it, and loveth darkness rather than light : and this double wrath shall be 
fastened and fixed immovably upon him, so long as he remaineth in the 
condition of misbelief : " The wrath of God abideth on him," saith he. 

Hence may the weak believer strengthen his faith, by reasoning from 
this ground after this manner : 

" Whosoever believeth the doctrine delivered by the Son of God, and 
" findeth himself partly drawn powerfully to believe in him, by the sight 
" of life in him, and partly driven, by the fear of God's wrath, to adhere 
" unto him, may be sure of right and interest to life eternal through him : 

"But sinful and unworthy I (may the weak believer say) do believe the 
" doctrine delivered by the Son of "God, and do feel myself partly drawn 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 339 

" powerfully to believe in him, by the sight of life in him, and partly 
" driven, by the fear of God's wrath, to adhere unto him : 

" Therefore I may be sure of my right and interest unto eternal life 
" through him." 



THE EVIDENCES OF TRUE FAITH. 

SO much for the laying the grounds of faith, and warrants to believe . 
Now, for evidencing of true faith by fruits, these four things are re- 
quisite : 1. That the believer be soundly convinced, in his judgment, of 
his obligation to keep the whole moral law, all the days of his life ; and 
that not the less, but so much the more, as he is delivered by Christ from 
the covenant of works, and curse of the law. 2. That he endeavour to 
grow in the exercise and daily practice of godliness and righteousness. 
3. That the course of his new obedience run in the right channel, that is 
through faith in Christ, and through a good conscience, to all the duties 
of love towards God and man. 4. That he keep strait communion with 
the fountain Christ Jesus, from whom grace must run along, for furnishing 
of good fruits. 

For the first, viz. To convince the believer, in his judgment, of his obliga- 
tion to keep the moral law, among many passages, take Matt. v. 16. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and 
glorify your Father which is in heaven. Yer. 17. Think not that I am 
come to destroy the law or the prophets : I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 
Yer. 18. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot 
or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Yer. 19. 
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall 
teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven : but whoso- 
ever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of 
heaven. Yer. 20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall 
exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter 
into the kingdom of heaven. 

Wherein our Lord, 

1. Giveth commandment to believers, justified by faith, to give evidence 
of the grace of God in them before men, by doing good works : " Let 
" your light so shine before men, (saith he,) that they may see your good 
" works." 

2. He induceth them so to do, by shewing, that albeit they be not 
justified by works, yet spectators of their good works may be converted 
or edified ; and so glory may redound to God by their good works, when 
the witnesses thereof " shall glorify your Father which is in heaven." 

3. He gives them no other rule for their new obedience than the moral 
law, set down and explicated by Moses and the prophets : " Think not 
" (saith he) that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets." 

4. He gives them to understand, that the doctrine of grace, and freedom 
from the curse of the law by faith in him, is readily mistaken by men's 
corrupt judgments, as if it did loose or slacken the obligation of believers 
to obey the commands, and to be subject to the authority of the law; and 
that this error is indeed a destroying of the law and of the prophets, 



340 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



which he will in no case ever endure in any of his disciples, it is so con- 
trary to the end of his coming, which is first to sanctify, and then to save 
believers: " Think not (saith he) that I am come to destroy the law or the 
" prophets." 

5. He teacheth, that the end of the gospel and covenant of grace is to 
procure mens obedience unto the moral law: "I am come (saith he) to 
" fulfil the law and the prophets." 

6. That the obligation of the moral law, in all points, unto all holy 
duties, is perpetual, and shall stand to the world's end, that is, "till heaven 
" and earth pass away." 

7. That as Grod hath had a care of the Scriptures from the beginning, 
so shall he have a care of them still to the world's end, that there shall not 
one jot or one tittle of the substance thereof be taken away ; so saith the 
text, Yer. 18. 

8. That as the breaking of the moral law, and defending the transgres- 
sions thereof to be no sin, doth exclude men both from heaven, and justly 
also from the fellowship of the true kirk; so the obedience of the law, and 
teaching others to do the same, by example, counsel, and doctrine, accord- 
ing to every man's calling, proveth a man to be a true believer, and in 
great estimation with Grod, and worthy to be much esteemed of by the 
true church, Yer. 19. 

9. That the righteousness of every true Christian must be more than 
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees; for the scribes and Phari- 
sees, albeit they took great pains to discharge sundry duties of the law, 
yet they cutted short the exposition thereof, that it might the less condemn 
their practice; they studied the outward part of the duty, but neglected 
the inward and spiritual part ; they discharged some meaner duties care- 
fully, but neglected judgment, mercy, and the love of Grod: in a word, 
they went about to establish their own righteousness, and rejected the 
righteousness of Grod by faith in Jesus. But a true Christian must have 
more than all this; he must acknowledge the full extent of the spiritual 
meaning of the law, and have a respect to all the commandments, and la- 
bour to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and " not lay 
" weight upon what service he hath done, or shall do," but clothe himself 
with the imputed righteousness of Christ, which only can hide his naked- 
ness, or else he cannot be saved ; so saith the text, " Except your righte- 
" ousness," etc. 

The second thing requisite to evidence true faith is, that the believer en- 
deavour to put the rules of godliness and righteousness in practice, 
and to grow in the daily exercise thereof; holden forth, 2 Pet. i. 5. 

And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to vir- 
tue, knowledge; Yer. 6. And to knowledge, temperance ; and to temperance, 
patience; and to patience, godliness ; Yer. 7. And to godliness, brotherly- 
kindness ; and to brotherly -kindness, charity. Yer. 8. For if these things be 
in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruit- 
fid in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Wherein, 1. The apostle teacheth believers, for evidencing of precious 
faith in themselves, to endeavour to add to their faith seven other sister 
graces. The first is Virtue, or the active exercise and practice of all moral 
duties, that so faith may not be idle, but put forth itself in work. The 
second is Knowledge, which serves to furnish faith with information of 
the truth to be believed, and to furnish virtue with direction what duties 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 341 



are to be done, and how to go about them prudently. The third is Temper- 
ance, which serveth to moderate the use of all pleasant things, that a man 
be not clogged therewith, nor made unfit for any duty whereto he is called. 
The fourth is Patience, which serveth to moderate a man's affections, 
when he meeteth with any difficulty or unpleasant thing ; that he neither 
weary for pains required in well-doing, nor faint when the Lord chastiseth 
him, nor murmur when he crosseth him. The fifth is Godliness, which 
may keep him up in all the exercises of religion, inward and outward ; 
whereby he may be furnished from God for all other duties which he hath 
to do. The sixth is Brotherly-kindness, which keepeth estimation of, and 
affection to, all the household of faith, and to the image of God in every 
one wheresoever it is seen. The seventh is Love, which keepeth the heart in 
readiness to do good to all men, whatsoever they be, upon all occasions 
which God shall offer. 

2. Albeit it be true, that there is much corruption and infirmity in the 
godly; yet the apostle will have men uprightly endeavouring, and doing 
their best, as they are able, to join all these graces one to another, and to 
grow in the measure of exercising them : " Giving all diligence, (saith he,) 
" add to your faith," etc. 

3. He assureth all professed believers, that as they shall profit in the 
obedience of this direction, so they shall profitably prove the soundness of 
their own faith; and, if they want these graces, that they shall be found 
blind deceivers of themselves, Ver. 9. 

The third thing requisite to evidence true faith is, that obedience to the 
law run in the right channel, that is, through faith in Christ, etc. 
holden forth, 1 Tim. i. 5. 

Now, the end of the commandment is love, out of a pure heart, and of a good 
conscience, and of faith unfeigned. 

Wherein the apostle teacheth these seven doctrines : 

1. That the obedience of the law must flow from love, and love from a 
pure heart, and a pure heart from a good conscience, and a good consci- 
ence from faith unfeigned: this he makes the only right channel of good 
works : " The end of the law is love/' etc. 

2. That the end of the law is not, that men may be justified by their 
obedience of it, as the Jewish doctors did falsely teach ; for it is impossible 
that sinners can be justified by the law, who, for every transgression, are 
condemned by the law : " For the end of the law is (not such as the Jewish 
" doctors taught, but) love, out of a pure heart," etc. 

3. That the true end of the law, preached unto the people, is, that they, 
by the law, being made to see their deserved condemnation, should flee to 
Christ unfeignedly, to be justified by faith in him ; so saith the text, while 
it maketh love to flow through faith in Christ. 

4. That no man can set himself in love to obey the law, excepting as far 
as his conscience is quieted by faith, or is seeking to be quieted in Christ; 
for " the end of the law is love, out of a good conscience, and faith un- 
" feigned." 

5. That feigned faith goeth to Christ without reckoning with the law, 
and so wants an errand ; but unfeigned faith reckoneth with the law, and 
is forced to flee for refuge unto Christ, as the end of the law for righte- 
ousness, so often as it finds itself guilty for breaking of the law : " For 
" the end of the law is faith unfeigned." 

6. That the fruits of love may come forth in act particularly, it is neces- 



342 THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



sary that the heart be brought to the hatred of all sin and uneleanness, 
and to a stedfast purpose to follow all holiness universally : "For the end 
" of the law is love, out of a pure heart." 

7. That unfeigned faith is able to make the conscience good, and the 
heart pure, and the man lovingly obedient to the law; for when Christ's 
blood is seen by faith to quiet justice, then the conscience becometh quiet 
also, and will not suffer the heart to entertain the love of sin, but sets the 
man on work to fear God for his mercy, and to obey all his command- 
ments, out of love to God, for his free gift of justification, by grace be- 
stowed on him : " For this is the end of the law indeed," whereby it 
obtaineth of a man more obedience than any other way. 

The fourth thing requisite to evidence true faith is, the keeping strait com- 
munion ivitli Christ, the fountain of all graces, and of all good works; 
holden forth, John xv. 5. 

/ am the vine, ye are the branches : he that abideth in me, and I in him, the 
same bringeth forth much fruit ; for without me ye can do nothing. 

Wherein Christ, in a similitude from a vine-tree, teacheth us, 

1. That by nature we are wild barren briers, till we be changed by 
coming unto Christ ; and that Christ is that noble vine-tree, having all 
life and sap of grace in himself, and able to change the nature of every 
one that cometh to hiin, and to communicate spirit and life to as many as 
shall believe in him : " I am the vine, (saith he,) and ye are the branches." 

2. That Christ loveth to have believers so united unto him, as that 
they be not separated at any time by unbelief : and that there may be a 
mutual inhabitation of them in him, by faith and love; and of him in them, 
by his word and Spirit; for he joineth these together, " If ye abide in me, 
" and I in you," as things inseparable. 

3. That except a man be ingrafted into Christ, and united to him by 
faith, he cannot do any the least good works of his own strength; yea, 
except in as far as a man doth draw spirit and life from Christ by faith, 

♦ the work which he doth is naughty and null in point of goodness in God's 
estimation : " For without me (saith he) ye can do nothing." 

4. That this mutual inhabitation is the fountain and infallible cause of 
constant continuing and abounding in well-doing: For "he that abideth 
"in me, and I in him, (saith he,) the same beareth much fruit." Now, as 
our abiding in Christ presupposeth three things; 1st, That we have heard 
the joyful sound of the gospel, making offer of Christ to us, who are lost 
sinners by the law; 2c?, That we have heartily embraced the gracious offer 
of Christ; 3d, That by receiving of him we are become the sons of God, 
John i. 12. and are incorporated into his mystical body, that he may dwell 
in us, as his temple, and we dwell in him, as in the residence of righteous- 
ness and life: so our abiding in Christ importeth other three things, (1.) 

* An employing of Christ in all our addresses to God, and in all our under- 
takings of whatsoever piece of service to him. (2.) A contentedness with 
his sufficiency, without going out from him to seek righteousness, or life, 
or furniture in any case, in our own or any of the creature's worthiness. 
(3.) A fixedness in our believing in him, a fixedness in our employing and 
making use of him, and a fixedness in our contentment in him, and ad- 
hering to him, so that no allurement, no temptation of Satan or the world, 
no terror nor trouble, may be able to drive our spirits from firm adherence 
to him, or from the constant avowing of his truth, and obeying his com- 
mands, who hath loved us, and given himself for us; and in whom not 



THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE. 



343 



only our life is laid up, but also the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily, 
by reason of the substantial and personal union of the divine and human 
nature in him. 

Hence let every watchful believer, for strengthening himself in faith 
and obedience, reason after this manner : 

"Whosoever doth daily employ Christ Jesus for cleansing his con- 
" science and affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against 
" the law, and for enabling him to give obedience to the law in love, he 
"hath the evidence of true faith in himself: 

" But I (may every watchful believer say) do daily employ Jesus Christ 
" for cleansing my conscience and affections from the guiltiness and filthi- 
" ness of sins against the law, and for enabling of me to give obedience to 
" the law in love : 

" Therefore I have the evidence of true faith in myself." 

And hence also let the sleepy and sluggish believer reason, for his own 
upstirring, thus : 

" Whatsoever is necessary for giving evidence of true faith, I study to 
" do it, except I would deceive myself and perish : 

" But to employ Christ Jesus daily for cleansing of my conscience and 
" affections from the guiltiness and filthiness of sins against the law, and 
" for enabling me to give obedience to the law in love, is necessary for 
" evidencing of true faith in me : 

" Therefore this I must study to do, except I would deceive myself and 
" perish/' 

And, lastly, Seeing Christ himself hath pointed this forth, as an un- 
doubted evidence of a man elected of God unto life, and given to Jesus 
Christ to be redeemed, " if he come unto him," that is, close covenant, > 
and keep communion with him, as he teacheth us, John vi. 37. saying, 
"All that the Father hath given me shall come to me; and him that 
" cometh to me I will in no wise cast out;" let every person, who doth 
not in earnest make use of Christ for remission of sin, and amendment of 
life, reason hence, and from the whole premises, after this manner, that 
his conscience may be awakened : 

" Whosoever is neither by the law, nor by the gospel, so convinced of 
"sin, righteousness, and judgment, as to make him come to Christ, and 
" employ him daily for remission of sin, and amendment of life; he want- 
" eth not only all evidence of saving faith, but also all appearance of his 
" election, so long as he remaineth in this condition : 

" But I (may every impenitent person say) am neither by the law nor 
"gospel so 'convinced of sin, righteousness, and judgment, as to make me 
" come to Christ, and employ him daily for remission of sin, and amend- 
" ment of life : 

" Therefore I want not only all evidence of saving faith, but also all 
" appearance of my election, so long as I remain in this condition." 



THE 

CONFESSION OF FAITH 

CF 

THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND: 

OR, 

THE NATIONAL COVENANT, 

WITH A DESIGNATION OF SUCH ACTS OF PARLIAMENT AS ARE EXPEDIENT 
FOR JUSTIFYING THE UNION AFTER MENTIONED. 



Joshua xxiv. 25. — So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set 

them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 
2 Kings xi. 17. — And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king 

and the people, that they should be the Lord's people ; between the king also 

and the people. 

Isaiah xliv. 5. — One shall say, I am the Lord's ; and another shall call himself by 
the name of Jacob ; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, 
and surname himself by the name of Israel. 



Assembly at Edinburgh, August 30, 1639. Sess. 23. 

ACT ordaining, by Ecclesiastical Authority, the Subscription of the Confession op Faith 
and Covenant, with the Assembly's Declaration. 

THE General Assembly considering the great happiness which may flow from a full 
and perfect union of this kirk and kingdom, by joining of all in one and the same 
Covenant with God, with the King's Majesty, and amongst ourselves; having, by our 
great oath, declared the uprightness and loyalty of our intentions in all our proceed- 
ings; and having withal supplicated his Majesty's high Commissioner, and the Lords 
of°his Majesty's honourable Privy Council, to enjoin, by act of council, all the lieges 
in time coming to subscribe the Confession of Faith and Covenant; which, as a testi- 
mony of our fidelity to God, and loyalty to our King, we have subscribed : And seeing 
his Majesty's high Commissioner, and the Lords of his Majesty's honourable Privy 
Council, have granted the desire of our supplication, ordaining, by civil authority, all 
his Majesty's lieges, in time coming, to subscribe the foresaid Covenant: that our union 
may be the more full and perfect, we, by our act and constitution ecclesiastical, do 
approve the foresaid Covenant in all the heads and clauses thereof; and ordain of new, 
under all ecclesiastical censure, That all the masters of universities, colleges, and 
schools, all scholars at the passing of their degrees, all persons suspected of Papistry, 
or any other error; and finally, all the members of this kirk and kingdom, subscribe 
the same, with these words prefixed to their subscription, " The Article of this Covenant, 
which was at the first subscription referred to the determination of the General 
Assembly, being determined ; and thereby the five articles of Perth, the government 
of the kirk by bishops, the civil places and power of kirkmen, upon the reasons and 
grounds contained in the acts of the General Assembly, declared to be unlawful 
within this kirk; we subscribe according to the determination foresaid." And 
ordain the Covenant, with this declaration, to be insert in the registers of the Assem- 
, blies of this kirk, general, provincial, and presbyterial, ad perpetuam rei memoriam. 
And in all humility supplicate his Majesty's high Commissioner, and the honourable 
estates of Parliament, by their authority, to ratify and enjoin the same, under all civil 
pains; which will tend to the glory of God, preservation of religion, the King's Majesty's 
honour, and perfect peace of this kirk and kingdom. 



Charles I. Pari. 2. Act 5. 

ACT anent the Ratification of the Covenant, and of the Assembly's Supplication, Act of 
Council, and Act of Assembly concerning the Covenant. 

At Edinburgh, June 11, 1640. 

THE Estates of Parliament, presently convened by his Majesty's special authority, 
considering the supplication of the General Assembly at Edinburgh, the 12th of 
August 1639, to his Majesty's high Commissioner, and the Lords of his Majesty's 
honourable Privy Council; and the act of council of the 30th of August 1639, contain- 
ing the answer of the said supplication ; and the act of the said General Assembly, 
ordaining, by their ecclesiastical constitution, the subscription of the Confession of 
Faith and Covenant mentioned in their supplication : and withal, having supplicated 
his Majesty to ratify and enjoin the same by his royal authority, under all civil pains, 
as tending to the glory of God, the preservation of religion, the King's Majesty's 
honour, and the perfect peace of this kirk and kingdom ; do ratify and approve the 
said supplication, act of council, and act of Assembly; and, conform thereto, ordain and 
command the said Confession and Covenant to be subscribed by all his Majesty's 
subjects of what rank and quality soever, under all civil pains; and ordain the said 
supplication, act of Council, and act of the Assembly, with the whole Confession and 
Covenant itself, to be insert and registrate in the acts and books of Parliament; and 
also ordain the samen to be presented at the entry of every parliament, and, before 
they proceed to any other act, that the same be publickly read, and sworn by the 
whole members of parliament claiming voice therein; otherwise the refusers to sub- 
scribe and swear the same shall have no place nor voice in parliament : And sicklike, 
ordain all judges, magistrates, or other officers, of whatsoever place, rank, or quality, 
and ministers at their entry, to swear and subscribe the samen Covenant, whereof the 
tenor follows. 



THE 

NATIONAL COVENANT; 

OB, 

THE CONFESSION OF FAITH : 



Subscribed at first by the King's Majesty, and his Household, in the year 1580; there- 
after by persons of all ranks in the year 1581, by ordinance of the Lords of 
secret council, and acts of the General Assembly; subscribed again by all sorts 
of persons in the year 1590, by a new ordinance of council, at the desire of the 
General Assembly: with a general bond for the maintaining of the true Christian 
religion, and the King's person; and, together with a resolution and promise, for 
the causes after expressed, to maintain the true religion, and the King's Majesty, 
according to the foresaid Confession and acts of Parliament, subscribed by Barons, 
Nobles, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons, in the year 1638: ap- 
proven by the General Assembly 1638 and 1639 ; and subscribed again by persons 
of all ranks and qualities in the year 1639, by an ordinance of council, upon the 
supplication of the General Assembly, and act of the General Assembly, ratified 
by an act of Parliament 1640: and subscribed by King Charles II. at Spey, June 
23. 1650, and Scoon, January 1. 1651. 

TTTE all and every one of us under- written, protest, That, after long 
? T and due examination of our own consciences in matters of true 
and false religion, we are now thoroughly resolved in the truth by the 
word and Spirit of God: and therefore we believe with our hearts, con- 
fess with our mouths, subscribe with our hands, and constantly affirm, be- 
fore God and the whole world, that this only is the true Christian faith 
and religion, pleasing God, and bringing salvation to man, which now is, 
by the mercy of God, revealed to the world by the preaching of the 
blessed evangel; and is received, believed, and defended by many and 
sundry notable kirks and realms, but chiefly by the kirk of Scotland, the 
King's Majesty, and three estates of this realm, as God's eternal truth, and 
only ground of our salvation ; as more particularly is expressed in the 
Confession of our Faith, established and publickly confirmed by sundry 
acts of Parliaments, and now of a long time hath been openly professed 
by the King's Majesty, and whole body of this realm both in burgh and 
land. To the which Confession and Form of Heligion we willingly agree , 
in our conscience in all points, as unto God's undoubted truth and verity, 
grounded only upon his written word. And therefore we abhor and de- 
test all contrary religion and doctrine; but chiefly all kind of Papistry in 
general and particular heads, even as they are now damned and confuted 
by the word of God and Kirk of Scotland. But, in special, we detest 
and refuse the usurped authority of that Eoman Antichrist upon the 
scriptures of God, upon the kirk, the civil magistrate, and consciences of 



348 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH 



men; all his tyrannous laws made upon indifferent things against our 
Christian liberty; his erroneous doctrine against the sufficiency of the 
written word, the perfection of the law, the office of Christ, and his 
blessed evangel ; his corrupted doctrine concerning original sin, our natu- 
ral inability and rebellion to God's law, our justification by faith only, our 
imperfect sanctification and obedience to the law; the nature, number, 
and use of the holy sacraments ; his five bastard sacraments, with all his 

'* rites, ceremonies, and false doctrine, added to the ministration of the true 
sacraments without the word of God ; his cruel judgment against infants 
departing without the sacrament ; his absolute necessity of baptism ; his 
blasphemous opinion of transubstantiation, or real presence of Christ's 
body in the elements, and receiving of the same by the wicked, or bodies 
of men; his dispensations with solemn oaths, perjuries, and degrees of 
marriage forbidden in the word ; his cruelty against the innocent divorced ; 
his devilish mass ; his blasphemous priesthood ; his profane sacrifice for 
sins of the dead and the quick ; his canonization of men ; calling upon 
angels or saints departed, worshipping of imagery, relicks, and crosses ; 
dedicating of kirks, altars, days; vows to creatures ; his purgatory, prayers 
for the dead ; praying or speaking in a strange language, with his pro- 
cessions, and blasphemous litany, and multitude of advocates or mediators ; 

I his manifold orders, auricular confession ; his desperate and uncertain re- 
pentance ; his general and doubtsome faith ; his satisfaction of men for 
their sins ; his justification by works, opus operatum, works of superero- 
gation, merits, pardons, peregrinations, and stations ; his holy water, 
baptizing of bells, conjuring of spirits, crossing, sayning, anointing, con- 
juring, hallowing of God's good creatures, with the superstitious opinion 
joined therewith ; his worldly monarchy, and wicked hierarchy ; his three 
solemn vows, with all his shavelings of sundry sorts ; his erroneous and 
bloody decrees made at Trent, with all the subscribers or approvers of that 
cruel and bloody band, conjured against the kirk of God. And finally, 
we detest all his vain allegories, rites, signs, and traditions brought in the 
kirk, without or against the word of God, and doctrine of this true re- 
formed kirk ; to the which we join ourselves willingly, in doctrine, faith, 
religion, discipline, and use of the holy sacraments, as lively members of 
the same in Christ our head : promising and swearing, by the great name 
of the LORD our GOD, that we shall continue in the obedience of the 
doctrine and discipline of this kirk,* and shall defend the same, according 
to our vocation and power, all the days of our lives ; under the pains con- 
tained in the law, and danger both of body and soul in the day of God's 
fearful judgment. 

And seeing that many are stirred up by Satan, and that Roman Anti- 
christ, to promise, swear, subscribe, and for a time use the holy sacraments 
in the kirk deceitfully, against their own conscience; minding hereby, 
first, under the external cloak of religion, to corrupt and subvert secretly 
God's true religion within the kirk ; and afterward, when time may serve, 
to become open enemies and persecutors of the same, under vain hope of 
the Pope's dispensation, devised against the word of God, to his greater 
confusion, and their double condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus : 
we therefore, willing to take away all suspicion of hypocrisy, and of such 

* The Confession which was subscribed at Halyrud-house the 25th of February 1587-8, 
by the King, Lennox, Huntly, the Chancellor, and about ninety-five other persons, hath 
here added, "Agreeing to the word." Sir John Maxwell of Pollock hath the original 
parchment. 



OR, NATIONAL COVENANT. 



349 



double dealing with God, and his kirk, protest, and call the Searcher of 
all hearts for witness, that our minds and hearts do fully agree with this 
our Confession, promise, oath, and subscription : so that we are not moved 
with any worldly respect, but are persuaded only in our conscience, 
through the knowledge and love of God's true religion imprinted in our 
hearts by the Holy Spirit, as we shall answer to him in the day when the 
secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed. 

And because we perceive, that the quietness and stability of our religion 
and kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of the King's 
Majesty, as upon a comfortable instrument of God's mercy granted to this 
country, for the maintaining of his kirk, and ministration of justice 
amongst us ; we protest and promise with our hearts, under the same oath, 
hand-writ, and pains, that we shall defend his person and authority with 
our goods, bodies, and lives, in the defence of Christ, his evangel, liberties 
of our country, ministration of justice, and punishment of iniquity, against 
all enemies within this realm or without, as we desire our God to be a 
strong and merciful defender to us in the day of our death, and coming of 
our Lord Jesus Christ ; to whom, with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be 
all honour and glory eternally. Amen. 

LIKEAS many Acts of Parliament, not only in general do abrogate, 
annul, and rescind all laws, statutes, acts, constitutions, canons civil or 
municipal, with all other ordinances, and practique penalties whatsoever, 
made in prejudice of the true religion, and professors thereof ; or of the 
true kirk, discipline, jurisdiction, and freedom thereof ; or in favours of 
idolatry and superstition, or of the Papistical kirk : As Act 3, Act 31, 
Pari. 1; Act 23, Pari. 11; Act 114, Pari. 12 of King James VI., That 
Papistry and superstition may be utterly suppressed, according to the in- 
tention of the Acts of Parliament, repeated in the fifth Act, Pari. 20, King 
James VI. And to that end they ordain all Papists and Priests to be 
punished with manifold civil and ecclesiastical pains, as adversaries to God's 
true religion, preached, and by law established, within this realm, Act 24, 
Pari. 11, King James VI.; as common enemies to all Christian govern- 
ment, Act 18, Pari. 16, King James VI.; as rebellers and gainstanders of 
our Sovereign Lord's authority, Act 47, Pari. 3, King James VI. ; and as 
idolaters, Act 104, Pari. 7, King James VI. But also in particular, by 
and attour the Confession of Faith, do abolish and condemn the Pope's 
authority and jurisdiction out of this land, and ordains the maintainers 
thereof to be punished, Act 2, Pari. 1; Act 51, Pari. 3 ; Act 106, Pari. 7 ; 
Act 114, Pari. 12, King James VI. : do condemn the Pope's erroneous 
doctrine, or any other erroneous doctrine repugnant to any of the articles 
of the true and Christian religion, publickly preached and by law estab- 
lished in this realm ; and ordains the spreaders and makers of books or 
libels, or letters or writs of that nature, to be punished, Act 46, Pari, 3 ; 
Act 106, Pari. 7 ; Act 24, Pari. 11, King James VI. : do condemn all 
baptism conform to the Pope's kirk, and the idolatry of the mass ; and 
ordains all sayers, wilful hearers, and concealers of the mass, the main- 
tainers and resetters of the priests, Jesuits, trafficking Papists, to be 
punished without any exception or restriction, Act 5, Pari. 1 ; Act 120, 
Pari. 12; Act 164, Pari. 13; Act 193, Pari. 14; Act 1, Pari. 19; Act 5, 
Pari. 20, King James VI. : do condemn all erroneous books and writs con- 
taining erroneous doctrine against the religion presently professed, or con- 
taining superstitious rites and ceremonies Papistical, whereby the people 



350 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH ; 



are greatly abused ; and ordains the home-bringers of them to be punished, 
Act 25, Pari. 11, King James VI.: do condemn the monuments and dregs 
of bygone idolatry, as going to crosses, observing the festival days of saints, 
and such other superstitious and Papistical rites, to the dishonour of God, 
contempt of true religion, and fostering of great error among the people ; 
and ordains the users of them to be punished for the second fault, as ido- 
laters, Act 104, Pari. 7, King James VI. 

Likeas many Acts of Parliament are conceived for maintenance of God's 
true and Christian religion, and the purity thereof, in doctrine and sacra- 
ments of the true church of God, the liberty and freedom thereof, in her 
national, synodal assemblies, presbyteries, sessions, policy, discipline, and 
jurisdiction thereof; as that purity of religion, and liberty of the church 
was used, professed, exercised, preached, and confessed, according to the 
reformation of religion in this realm: As for instance, the 99th Act, 
Pari. 7; Act 25, Pari. 11; Act 114, Pari. 12; Act 160, Pari. 13 of King 
James VI. ratified by the 4th Act of King Charles. So that the 6th Act, 
Pari. 1, and 68th Act, Pari. 6 of King James VI. in the year of God 1579, 
declare the ministers of the blessed evangel, whom God of his mercy had 
raised up, or hereafter should raise, agreeing with them that then lived, 
in doctrine and administration of the sacraments; and the people that 
professed Christ, as he was then offered in the evangel, and doth commu- 
nicate with the holy sacraments (as in the reformed kirks of this realm 
they were presently administrate) according to the Confession of Faith, to 
be the true and holy kirk of Christ Jesus within this realm. And decerns 
and declares all and sundry, who either gainsay the word of the evangel 
received and aDproved as the heads of the Confession of Faith, professed 
in Parliament in the year of God 1560, specified also in the first Parlia- 
ment of King James VI., and ratified in this present Parliament, more 
particularly do express ; or that refuse the adminstration of the holy sac- 
raments, as they were then ministrated; to be no members of the said 
kirk within this realm, and true religion presently professed, so long as 
they keep themselves so divided from the society of Christ's body. And 
the subsequent Act 69, Pari. 6 of King James VI. declares, that there is 
no other face of kirk, nor other face of religion, than was presently at that 
time, by the favour of God, established within this realm : " Which there- 
" fore is ever styled God's true religion, Christ's true religion, the true 
" and Christian religion, and a perfect religion ; " which, by manifold Acts 
of Parliament, all within this realm are bound to profess, to subscribe the 
articles thereof, the Confession of Faith, to recant all doctrine and errors 
repugnant to any of the said articles, Act 4 and 9, Pari. 1 ; Acts 45, 46, 
47, Pari. 3; Act 71, Pari. 6; Act 106, Pari. 7 ; Act 24, Pari. 11; Act 
123, Pari. 12 ; Act 194 and 197, Pari. 14 of King James VI. And 
all magistrates, sheriffs, &c. on the one part, are ordained to search, 
apprehend, and punish all contraveners : For instance, Act 5, Pari. 1; 
Act 104, Pari. 7 ; Act 25, Pari. 11, King James VI. ; and that notwith- 
standing of the King's Majesty's licences on the contrary, which are dis- 
charged, and declared to be of no force, in so far as they tend in any wise 
to the prejudice and hinder of the execution of the Acts of Parliament 
against Papists and adversaries of true religion, Act 106, Pari. 7, King 
James VI. On the other part, in the 47th Act, Pari. 3, King James VI. 
it is declared and ordained, Seeing the cause of God's true religion and 
his Highness's authority are so joined, as the hurt of the one is common 
to both: that none shall be reputed as loyal and faithful subjects to our 



OR, NATIONAL COVENANT. 



351 



sovereign Lord, or his authority, but be punishable as rebellers and gain- 
standers of the same, who shall not give their confession, and make their 
profession of the said true religion : and that they who, after defection, 
shall give the confession of their faith of new, they shall promise to con- 
tinue therein in time coming, to maintain our sovereign Lord's authority, 
and at the uttermost of their power to fortify, assist, and maintain the 
true preachers and professors of Christ's religion, against whatsoever 
enemies and gainstanders of the same ; and namely, against all such, of 
whatsoever nation, estate, or degree they be of, that have joined or bound 
themselves, or have assisted, or assist, to set forward and execute the 
cruel decrees of the council of Trent, contrary to the true preachers and 
professors of the word of God; which is repeated, word by word, in 
the articles of pacification at Perth, the 23d of February 1572, approved 
by Parliament the last of April 1573, ratified in Parliament 1587, 
and related Act 123, Pari. 12 of King James VI.; with this addition, 
" That they are bound to resist all treasonable uproars and hostilities 
" raised against the true religion, the King's Majesty, and the true pro- 
" fessors." 

Likeas, all lieges are bound to maintain the King's Majesty's royal per- 
son and authority, the authority of Parliaments, without the which neither 
any laws or lawful judicatories can be established, Act 130 and 131, Pari. 
8, King James VI., and the subjects' liberties, who ought only to live and 
be governed by the King's laws, the common laws of this realm allenarly, 
Act 48, Pari. 3, King James I.; Act 79, Pari. 6, King James IV.; re- 
peated in the Act 131, Pari. 8, King James VI.; which if they be inno- 
vated and prejudged, "the commission anent the union of the two king- 
" doms of Scotland and England, which is the sole act of the 17th Pari. 
" of King James VI. declares," such confusion would ensue as this realm 
could be no more a free monarchy: because, by the fundamental laws, 
ancient privileges, offices, and liberties of this kingdom, not only the 
princely authority of his Majesty's royal descent hath been these many 
ages maintained, but also the people's security of their lands, livings, 
rights, offices, liberties, and dignities preserved. And therefore, for the 
preservation of the said true religion, laws, and liberties of this kingdom, 
it is statute by the 8th Act, Pari. 1, repeated in the 99th Act, Pari. 7, 
ratified in the 23d Act, Pari. 11, and 114th Act, Pari. 12, of King James 
VI., and 4th Act, Pari. 1, of King Charles I. "That all Kings and 
" Princes at their coronation, and reception of their princely authority, 
" shall make their faithful promise by their solemn oath, in the presence 
" of the eternal God, that, enduring the whole time of their lives, they 
"shall serve the same eternal God, to the uttermost of their power, 
" according as he hath required in his most holy word, contained in the 
" Old and New Testament ; and according to the same word, shall main- 
" tain the true religion of Christ Jesus, the preaching of his holy word, 
"the due and right ministration of the sacraments now received and 
" preached within this realm, (according to the Confession of Faith imme- 
diately preceding,) and shall abolish and gainstand all false religion 
"contrary to the same; and shall rule the people committed to their 
" charge, according to the will and command of God revealed in his fore- 
" said word, and according to the laudable laws and constitutions received 
" in this realm, nowise repugnant to the said will of the eternal God ; and 
" shall procure, to the uttermost of their power, to the kirk of God, and 
" whole Christian people, true and perfect peace in all time coming : and 



352 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH ; 



" that they shall be careful to root out of their empire all hereticks and 
" enemies to the true worship of God, who shall be convicted by the true 
"kirk of God of the foresaid crimes." Which was also observed by his 
Majesty, at his coronation in Edinburgh 1633, as may be seen in the 
order of the coronation. 

In obedience to the commandment of God, conform to the practice of 
the godly in former times, and according to the laudable example of our 
worthy and religious progenitors, and of many yet living amongst us, 
which was warranted also by act of council, commanding a general band 
to be made and subscribed by his Majesty's subjects of all ranks ; for two 
causes : one was, For defending the true religion, as it was then reformed, 
and is expressed in the Confession of Faith above written, and a former 
large Confession established by sundry acts of lawful General Assemblies 
and of Parliaments, unto which it hath relation, set down in publick 
Catechisms; and which hath been for many years, with a blessing from 
heaven, preached and professed in this kirk and kingdom, as God's un- 
doubted truth, grounded only upon his written word. The other cause 
was, For maintaining the King's Majesty, his person and estate; the 
true worship of God and the King's authority being so straitly joined, 
as that they had the same friends and common enemies, and did stand 
and fall together. And finally, being convinced in our minds, and con- 
fessing with our mouths, that the present and succeeding generations in 
this land are bound to keep the foresaid national oath and subscription 
inviolable. 

We Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons 
under-subscribing, considering divers times before, and especially at this 
time, the danger of the true reformed religion, of the King's honour, and 
of the publick peace of the kingdom, by the manifold innovations and 
evils, generally contained, and particularly mentioned in our late suppli- 
cations, complaints, and protestations ; do hereby profess, and before God, 
his angels, and the world, solemnly declare, That with our whole heart 
we agree, and resolve all the days of our life constantly to adhere unto 
and to defend the foresaid true religion, and (forbearing the practice of 
all innovations already introduced in the matters of the worship of God, 
or approbation of the corruptions of the publick government of the kirk, 
or civil places and power of kirkmen, till they be tried and allowed in free 
Assemblies and in Parliament) to labour, by all means lawful, to recover 
the purity and liberty of the Gospel, as it was established and professed 
before the foresaid novations. And because, after due examination, we 
plainly perceive, and undoubtedly believe, that the innovations and evils 
contained in our supplications, complaints, and protestations, have no 
warrant of the word of God, are contrary to the articles of the foresaid 
Confession, to the intention and meaning of the blessed reformers of reli- 
gion in this land, to the above-written acts of Parliament; and do sensibly 
tend to the re-establishing of the Popish religion and tyranny, and to the 
subversion and ruin of the true reformed religion, and of our liberties, 
laws, and estates; we also declare, That the foresaid Confessions are to 
be interpreted, and ought to be understood of the foresaid novations 
and evils, no less than if every one of them had been expressed in 
the foresaid Confessions; and that we are obliged to detest and abhor 
them, amongst other particular heads of Papistry abjured therein. And 
therefore, from the knowledge and conscience of our duty to God, to our 
King and country, without any worldly respect or inducement, so far as 



OR, NATIONAL COVENANT. 



353 



human infirmity will suffer, wishing a further measure of the grace of 
God for this effect; we promise and swear, by the GREAT NAME OF 
THE LORD OUR GOD, to continue in the profession and obedience of 
the foresaid religion; and that we shall defend the same, and resist all 
these contrary errors and corruptions, according to our vocation, and to 
the uttermost of that power that God hath put in our hands, all the days 
of our life. 

And in like manner, with the same heart, we declare before God and 
men, That we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may 
turn to the dishonour of God, or to the diminution of the King's greatness 
and authority ; but, on the contrary, we promise and swear, That we shall, 
to the uttermost of our power, with our means and lives, stand to the 
defence of our dread sovereign the King's Majesty, his person and autho- 
rity, in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true religion, liberties, 
and laws of the kingdom; as also to the mutual defence and assistance 
every one of us of another, in the same cause of maintaining the true reli- 
gion, and his Majesty's authority, with our best counsel, our bodies, means, 
and whole power, against all sorts of persons whatsoever ; so that what- 
soever shall be done to the least of us for that cause, shall be taken as done 
to us all in general, and to every one of us in particular. And that we 
shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer ourselves to be divided or with- 
drawn, by whatsoever suggestion, combination, allurement, or terror, from 
this blessed and loyal conjunction ; nor shall cast in any let or impediment 
that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall 
be found to conduce for so good ends ; but, on the contrary, shall by all 
lawful means labour to further and promote the same : and if any such 
dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by word or writ, we, and 
every one of us, shall either suppress it, or, if need be, shall incontinent 
make the same known, that it may be timeously obviated. Neither 
do we fear the foul aspersions of rebellion, combination, or what else 
our adversaries, from their craft and malice, would put upon us ; seeing 
what we do is so well warranted, and ariseth from an unfeigned desire 
to maintain the true worship of God, the majesty of our King, and the 
peace of the kingdom, for the common happiness of ourselves and our 
posterity. 

And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceed- 
ings, except with our profession and subscription we join such a life and 
conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their covenant 
with God ; we therefore faithfully promise for ourselves, our followers, 
and all others under us, both in publick, and in our particular families, 
and personal carriage, to endeavour to keep ourselves within the bounds 
of Christian liberty, and to be good examples to others of all godliness, 
soberness, and righteousness, and of every duty we owe to God and 
man. 

And, that this our union and conjunction may be observed without 
violation, we call the LIVING GOD, THE SEARCHER OF OUR 
HEAP»,TS, to witness, who knoweth this to be our sincere desire and 
unfeigned resolution, as we shall answer to JESUS CHRIST in the great 
day, and under the pain of God's everlasting wrath, and of infamy and 
loss of all honour and respect in this world : most humbly beseeching the 
LORD to strengthen us by his HOLY SPIRIT for this end, and to bless 
our desires and proceedings with a happy success; that religion and 
righteousness may flourish in the land, to the glory of GOD, the honour 

z 



S54 



THE CONFESSION OF FAITH, &c. 



of our King, and peace and comfort of us all. In witness whereof, we have 
subscribed with our hands all the premises. 

THE article of this covenant, which was at the first subscription referred 
to the determination of the General Assembly, being now deter- 
mined ; and thereby the five articles of Perth, the government of the kirk 
by bishops, and the civil places and power of kirkmen, upon the reasons 
and grounds contained in the Acts of the General Assembly, declared to 
be unlawful within this kirk, we subscribe according to the determination 
aforesaid. 



\ 



THE 

SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT 

FOR 

REFORMATION AND DEFENCE OF RELIGION, THE HONOUR AND 
HAPPINESS OF THE KING, AND THE PEACE AND SAFETY 
OF THE THREE KINGDOMS OF SCOTLAND, 

ENGLAND, AND IRELAND. , 

Taken and Subscribed several times by King Charles II, and by all ranks in 
the said three kingdoms. 

"WITH 

AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1643 AND AN ACT OF PARLIAMENT 1644, 
RATIFYING AND APPROVING THE SAID LEAGUE AND COVENANT. 



Jer. 1. 5. — Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that 

shall not he forgotten. 
Prov. xxv. 5. — Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall he 

established in righteousness. 
2 Chron. xv. 15. — And all Judah rejoiced at the oath ; for they had sworn with all 

their heart. 

Gal. iii. 15. — Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed by an oath, 
no man disannulleth or addeth thereto. 




356 



Assembly at Edinburgh, August 17, 1643. Sess. 14. 
The General Assembly's Approbation of the Solemn League and Covenant. 

THE Assembly having recommended unto a Committee appointed by them to join 
with the Committee of the Honourable Convention of Estates, and the Commis- 
sioners of the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, for bringing the 
kingdoms to a more near conjunction and union, received from the foresaid Committees 
the Covenant after mentioned, as the result of their consultations: and having taken 
the same, as a matter of so publick concernment and so deep importance doth require, 
unto their gravest consideration, did, with all their hearts, and with the beginnings of 
the feelings of that joy, which they did find in so great measure upon the renovation 
of the National Covenant of this kirk and kingdom, All with one voice approve and 
embrace the same, as the most powerful mean, by the blessing of GOD, for settling and 
preserving the true Protestant .religion with perfect peace in his Majesty's dominions, 
and propagating the same to other nations, and for establishing his Majesty's throne 
to all ages and generations. And therefore, with their best affections, recommend the 
same to the Honourable Convention of Estates, that, being examined and approved, 
by them, it may be sent with all diligence to the kingdom of England, that, being re- 
ceived and approven there, the same may be, with publick humiliation, and all reli- 
gious and answerable solemnity, sworn and subscribed by all true professors of the 
reformed religion, and all his Majesty's good subjects in both kingdoms. 

A. JOHNSTOUN. 



Charles I. Pari. 3. Sess. 1. Act 5. 

ACT anent the Ratification of the calling of the Convention, Ratification of the League and 
Covenant, Articles of Treaty betwixt the Kingdoms of Scotland and England, and 
remanent Acts of the Convention of Estates, and Committee thereof. 

At Edinburgh, July 15, 1644. 

THE Estates of Parliament, presently convened by virtue of the last act of the last 
Parliament, holden by his Majesty, and the three Estates, in anno 1641, con- 
sidering, that the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council, and Commissioners for conserv- 
ing the articles of the treaty, having, according to their interests and trust committed 
to them by his Majesty and Estates of Parliament, used all means, by supplications, 
remonstrances, and sending of Commissioners, for securing the peace of this kingdom, 
and removing the unhappy distractions betwixt his Majesty and his subjects in Eng- 
land, in such a way as might serve most for his Majesty's honour, and good of both 
kingdoms ; and their humble and dutiful endeavours for so good ends having proven 
ineffectual, and their offer of mediation and intercession being refused by his Majesty; 
and thereby finding the weight and difficulty of affairs, and the charge lying on them 
to be greater than they could bear; did therefore, in the month of May 1643, meet 
together with the Commissioners for the common burdens, that, by joint advice, some 
resolution might be taken therein; and in respect of the danger imminent to the true 
Protestant religion, his Majesty's honour, and peace of thir kingdoms, by the multi- 
tude of Papists and their adherents in arms in England and Ireland, and of many 
other publick and important affairs, which could not admit delay, and did require the 
advice of the representative body of the kingdom; appointed and caused indict a meet- 
ing of the Convention of Estates (his Majesty having formerly refused their humble 
desires for a Parliament) to be on the 22d of June following; which diet being fre- 
quently kept by the Noblemen, Commissioners of shires and burghs, and they finding 
these dangers against this kirk and state still increasing, resolved, after serious de- 
liberation and advice of the General Assembly, and joint concurrence of the Commis- 
sioners authorized by the Parliament of England, that one of the chiefest remedies for 
preventing of these and the like dangers, for preservation of religion, and both king- 
doms from ruin and destruction, and for procuring of peace. That both kingdoms 
should, for these ends, enter into Covenant; which was accordingly drawn up, and 



357 



cheerfully embraced and allowed. — And at last a treaty was agreed unto by both king- 
doms, concerning the said Covenant, and assistance craved from this kingdom by the 
kingdom of England, in pursuance of the ends expressed therein : — And the Estates 
being still desirous to use all good means, that, without the effusion of more blood, 
there may be such a blessed pacification betwixt his Majesty and his subjects, as may 
tend to the good of religion, his Majesty's true honour and safety, and happiness of his 
people, did therefore give commission to John Earl of Loudoun, Lord Chancellor, Lord 
Maitland, Lord Waristoun, and Mr Kobert Barclay, to repair to England, and endea- 
vour the effectuating of these ends contained in the covenant of treaties, conform to 
their instructions. — 

And the said Estates having taken the proceedings above written to their considera- 
tion, do find and declare, That the Lords of council, and conservers of peace, did behave 
themselves as faithful counsellors, loyal subjects, and good patriots, in tendering their 
humble endeavours for removing the distractions betwixt his Majesty and his subjects, 
and in calling the Commissioners for the common burdens, and, by joint advice, ap- 
pointing the late meeting of Convention, wherein they have approven themselves an- 
swerable to the duty of their places, and that trust committed to them; and therefore 
ratifies and approves their whole proceedings therein, and declares the said Conven- 
tion was lawfully called, and also full and free in itself, consisting of all the members 
thereof, as any Convention hath been at any time bygone ; and ratifies and approves 

the several acts made by them, or their committee, for ^enjoining the Covenant. 

And also, the said estates of Parliament (but prejudice of the premises, and of the 
general ratification above mentioned) ratify, approve, and confirm the foresaid mutual 
League and Covenant, concerning the reformation and defence of religion, the honour 
and happiness of the King, and the peace and safety of the three kingdoms of Scot- 
land, England, and Ireland; together with the acts of the Kirk and Estate authoriz- 
ing the same League and Covenant ; together also with the foresaid articles of treaty 
agreed upon betwixt the said Commissioners of the Convention of Estates of Scotland 
and the Commissioners of both the Houses of Parliament of England, concerning the 

said Solemn League and Covenant. And the said Estates ordain the same acts, with 

the League and Covenant above specified, acts authorizing the same, and the articles 
of treaty foresaid, to have the full force and strength of perfect laws and acts of Par- 
liament, and to be observed by all his Majesty's lieges, conform to the tenors thereof 
respective. Of the which League and Covenant, the tenor follows: 



THE 

SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT 

FOR 

Reformation and Defence of Religion, the Honour and Happiness of the King, and the 
Peace and Safety of the Three Kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland; 
agreed upon by Commissioners from the Parliament and Assembly of Divines in 
England, with Commissioners of the Convention of Estates, and General Assem- 
bly in Scotland ; approved by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 
and by both Houses of Parliament and Assembly of Divines in England, and 
taken and subscribed by them, Anno 1643 ; and thereafter, by the said authority, 
taken and subscribed by all Ranks in Scotland and England the same Year; and 
ratified by Act of the Parliament of Scotland, Anno 1644: And again renewed 
in Scotland, with an Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, by all 
Ranks, Anno 1648, and by Parliament 1649; and taken and subscribed by King 
Charles II. at Spey, June 23, 1650; and at Scoon, January 1, 1651. 

WE Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, Citizens, Burgesses, 
Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts, in the king- 
doms of Scotland, England, and Ireland, by the providence of GOD, liv- 
ing under one King, and being of one reformed religion, having before 
our eyes the glory of GOD, and the advancement of the kingdom of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the honour and happiness of the King's 
Majesty and his posterity, and the true publick liberty, safety, and peace 
of the kingdoms, wherein every one's private condition is included : And 
calling to mind the treacherous and bloody plots, conspiracies, attempts, 
and practices of the enemies of GOD, against the true religion and pro- 
fessors thereof in all places, especially in these three kingdoms, ever since 
the reformation of religion; and how much their rage, power, and pre- 
sumption are of late, and at this time, increased and exercised, whereof 
the deplorable state of the church and kingdom of Ireland, the distressed 
estate of the church and kingdom of England, and the dangerous estate 
of the church and kingdom of Scotland, are present and public testimonies; 
we have now at last, (after other means of supplication, remonstrance, 
protestation, and sufferings,) for the preservation of ourselves and our re- 
ligion from utter ruin and destruction, according to the commendable 
practice of these kingdoms in former times, and the example of GOD'S 
people in pther nations, after mature deliberation, resolved and determined 
to enter into a mutual and solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all 
subscribe, and each one of us for himself, with our hands lifted up to the 
most High GOD, do swear, 

I. rTTFTAT we shall sincerely, really, and constantly, through the grace 
X of GOD, endeavour, in our several places and callings, the pre- 
servation of the reformed religion in the Church of Scotland, in doctrine, 
worship, discipline, and government, against our common enemies; the 



THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. 



S59 



reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England and Ireland, in doc- 
trine, worship, discipline, and government, according to the word of GOD, 
and the example of the best reformed Churches; and shall endeavour to 
bring the Churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest conjunc- 
tion and uniformity in religion, confession of faith, form of church-govern- 
ment, directory for worship and catechising; that we, and our posterity 
after us, may, as brethren, live in faith and love, and the Lord may delight 
to dwell in the midst of us. 

II. That we shall in like manner, without respect of persons, endeavour 
the extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, (that is, church-government by Arch- 
bishops, Bishops, their Chancellors, and Commissaries, Deans, Deans and 
Chapters, Archdeacons, and all other ecclesiastical Officers depending on 
that hierarchy,) superstition, heresy, schism, profaneness, and whatsoever 
shall be found to be contrary to sound doctrine and the power of godli- 
ness, lest we partake in other men's sins, and thereby be in danger to 
receive of their plagues ; and that the Lord may be one, and his name 
one, in the three kingdoms. 

III. We shall, with the same sincerity, reality, and constancy, in our 
several avocations, endeavour, with our estates and lives, mutually to pre- 
serve the rights and privileges of the Parliaments, and the liberties of the 
kingdoms ; and to preserve and defend the King's Majesty's person and 
authority, in the preservation and defence of the true religion, and liber- 
ties of the kingdoms ; that the world may bear witness with our con- 
sciences of our loyalty, and that we have no thoughts or intentions to 
diminish his Majesty's just power and greatness. 

IV. We shall also, with all faithfulness, endeavour the discovery of all 
such as have been or shall be incendiaries, malignants, or evil instruments, 
by hindering the reformation of religion, dividing the king from his people, 
or one of the kingdoms from another, or making any faction or parties 
amongst the people, contrary to this League and Covenant ; that they may 
be brought to publick trial, and receive condign punishment, as the degree 
of their offences shall require or deserve, or the supreme judicatories of 
both kingdoms respectively, or others having power from them for that 
effect, shall judge convenient. 

Y. And whereas the happiness of a blessed peace between these king- 
doms, denied in former times to our progenitors, is, by the good providence 
of GOD, granted unto us, and hath been lately concluded and settled by 
both Parliaments ; we shall each one of us, according to our place and 
interest, endeavour that they may remain conjoined in a firm peace and 
union to all posterity ; and that justice may be done upon the wilful op- 
posers thereof, in manner expressed in the precedent article. 

VI. We shall also, according to our places and callings, in this common 
cause of religion, liberty, and peace of the kingdoms, assist and defend all 
those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the maintaining and 
pursuing thereof ; and shall not suffer ourselves, directly or indirectly, by 
whatsoever combination, persuasion, or terror, to be divided and with- 
drawn from this blessed union and conjunction, whether to make defection 
to the contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indifference or 
neutrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of GOD, the 
good of the kingdom, and honour of the King ; but shall, all the days of 
our lives, zealously and constantly continue therein against all opposition, 
and promote the same, according to our power, against all lets and im- 
pediments whatsoever ; and, what we are not able ourselves to suppress 



360 



THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. 



or overcome, we shall reveal and make known, that it may be timely pre- 
vented or removed : All which we shall do as in the sight of God. 

And, because these kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations 
against GOD, and his Son Jesus Christ, as is too manifest by our present 
distresses and dangers, the fruits thereof ; we profess and declare, before 
GOD and the world, our unfeigned desire to be humbled for our own 
sins, and for the sins of these kingdoms : especially, that we have not as 
we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the gospel ; that we have not 
laboured for the purity and power thereof; and that we have not en- 
deavoured to receive Christ in our hearts, nor to walk worthy of him in 
our lives ; which are the causes of other sins and transgressions so much 
abounding amongst us : and our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, and 
endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both 
in publick and in private, in all duties we owe to GOD and man, to 
amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a 
real reformation ; that the Lord may turn away his wrath and heavy in- 
dignation, and establish these churches and kingdoms in truth and peace. 
And this Covenant we make in the presence of ALMIGHTY GOD, the 
Searcher of all hearts, with a true intention to perform the same, as we 
shall answer at that great day, when the secrets of all hearts shall be dis- 
closed ; most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy 
Spirit for this end, and to bless our desires and proceedings with such 
success, as may be deliverance and safety to his people, and encourage- 
ment to other Christian churches, groaning under, or in danger of, the 
yoke of antichristian tyranny, to join in the same or like association and 
covenant, to the glory of GOD, the enlargement of the kingdom of Jesus 
Christ, and the peace and tranquillity of Christian kingdoms and com- 
monwealths. 



A SOLEMN ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

OP 

PUBLIC! SINS AND BKEACHES OF THE COVENANT; 

AND 

A SOLEMN ENG AGEMENT TO ALL THE DUTIES 
CONTAINED THEREIN; 

NAMELY, THOSE WHICH DO IN A MORE SPECIAL WAY RELATE UNTO THE 
DANGERS OF THESE TIMES : 



TOGETHER WITH 



THE ACT OF THE COMMISSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1648, AND ACT OF 
PARLIAMENT 1649, FOR RENEWING THE LEAGUE AND COVENANT. 



The Act of the Commission of the General Assembly for renewing the Solemn 
League and Covenant. 
Edinburgh, October 6, 1648. 

THE Commission of the General Assembly considering, that a great part of this 
land have involved themselves in many and gross breaches of the Solemn League 
and Covenant; and that the hands of many are grown slack in following and pursu- 
ing the duties contained therein ; and that many, who not being come to sufficient age 
when it was first sworn and subscribed, have not hitherto been received into the same ; 
do, upon these, and other grave and important considerations, appoint and ordain the 
Solemn League and Covenant to be renewed throughout all the congregations of this 
kingdom. And, because it is a duty of great weight and consequence, ministers, 
after the sight hereof, would be careful to take pains, in their doctrine and otherwise, 
that their people may be made sensible of these things, wherein they have broken the 
Covenant, and be prepared for the renewing thereof with suitable affections and dis- 
positions. And, that these things may be the better performed, we have thought it 
necessary to condescend upon a Solemn Acknowledgment of Publick Sins and Breaches 
of the Covenant, and a Solemn Engagement to all the Duties contained therein, 
namely, those which do in a more special way relate unto the dangers of these times: 
And this Solemn Acknowledgment and Engagement, sent herewith, shall be made use 
of, and the League and Covenant shall be renewed in such manner as follows : First, 
There shall be an intimation of a solemn publick humiliation and fast the second 
Sabbath of December, to be kept upon the next Thursday, and the Lord's day there- 
after ; at which intimation, the League and Covenant, and the Public Acknowledg- 
ment of Sins and Engagement unto Duties, are to be publickly read by the minister, 
in the audience of all the people ; and they are to be exhorted to get copies thereof, 
that they may be made acquainted therewith; and the humiliation and fast is to be 
kept the next Thursday thereafter, in reference to the breaches of the Covenant, con- 
tained in the solemn public acknowledgment, as the causes thereof ; and the next 
Lord's day thereafter, which is also to be spent in publick humiliation and fasting, 
immediately after the sermon, which is to be applied to the business of that day, the 
Publick Acknowledgment and Engagement is again to be publickly read; and there- 
after prayer is to be made, containing the confession of the breaches mentioned there- 
in, and begging mercy for these sins, and strength of God for renewing the Covenant 
in sincerity and truth ; after which prayer the Solemn League and Covenant is to be 
read by the minister, and then to be sworn by him and all the people, who are to en- 
gage themselves for performance of all the duties contained therein ; namely, these 
which are mentioned in the Publick Acknowledgment and Engagement, and are oppo- 
site unto the sins therein confessed : and the action is to be closed with prayer to God, 
tbat his people may be enabled, in the power of his strength, to do their duty, accord- 
ing to their oath, now renewed in so solemn a, way. It is also hereby provided, That 
all those who renew the League and Covenant, shall again subscribe the same ; and 
that none be admitted to the renewing or subscribing thereof, who are excluded by 
the other act and direction sent herewith. A. KER. 



The Act of the Committee of Estates of Parliament for renewing the Solemn 
League and Covenant. 

Edinburgh. October 14 ; 1648. 

THE Committee of Estates being very sensible of the grievous backslidings of this 
land, in the manifold breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, made and 
sworn to the most high God ; do therefore unanimously and heartily approve the sea- 
sonable and pious resolution of the Commission of the General Assembly for a solemn 
Acknowledgment of Publick Sins and Provocations, especially the breaches of the 
Covenant, and a solemn engagement to a more conscionable performance of the duties 
therein contained, and for renewing the Solemn League and Covenant ; and do require 
and ordain, That the Directions of the said Commission of Assembly, in their act of 
the 6th of this month, for a publick Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to 
Duties, be carefully followed ; that the fast and humiliation, appointed by them, be 
religiously observed ; and that the Solemn League and Covenant be sincerely and cor- 
dially renewed and subscribed, in the manner they have prescribed in their said act. 

Extractum, ME THO. HENDERSON. 



A SOLEMN ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

OP 

PUBLIC! SINS, AND BREACHES OF THE CO-TENANT; 

AND 

A SOLEMN ENGAGEMENT TO ALL THE DUTIES CONTAINED THEREIN, NAMELY, THOSE 
WHICH DO IN A MORE SPECIAL WAY RELATE UNTO THE DANGERS 
OF THESE TIMES. 

WE Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, 
and Commons of all sorts within this kingdom, by the good hand 
of God upon us, taking into serious consideration the many sad afflictions 
and deep distresses wherewith we have been exercised for a long time 
past ; and that the land, after it hath been sore wasted with the sword 
and the pestilence, and threatened with famine ; and that shame and con- 
tempt hath been poured out from the Lord against many thousands of 
our nation, who did in a sinful way make war upon the kingdom of Eng- 
land, contrary to the testimony of his servants, and desires of his people ; 
and that the remnants of that army, returning to this land, have spoiled 
and oppressed many of our brethren ; and that the malignant party is still 
numerous, and, retaining their former principles, wait for an opportunity 
to raise a new and dangerous war, not only unto the rending of the 
bowels of this kingdom, but unto the dividing us from England, and 
overturning of the work of God in all the three kingdoms ; and consider- 
ing also, that a cloud of calamities doth still hang over our heads, and 
threaten us with sad things to come, we cannot but look upon these 
things as from the Lord, who is righteous in all his ways, feeding us with 
the bread of tears, and making us to drink the waters of afflictions, until 
we be taught to know how evil and bitter a thing it is to depart away 
from him, by breaking the Oath and Covenant which we have made with 
him ; and that we may be humbled before him, by confessing our sin, and 
forsaking the evil of our way. 

Therefore being pressed with so great necessities and straits, and war- 
ranted by the word of God, and having the example of God's people of 
old, who in the time of their troubles, and when they were to seek de- 
livery, and a right way for themselves, that the Lord might be with them 
to prosper them, did humble themselves before him, and make a free and 
particular confession of the sins of their princes, their rulers, their cap- 
tains, their priests, and their people ; and did engage themselves to do no 
more so, but to reform their ways, and be stedfast in this covenant ; and 
remembering the practice of our predecessors in the year 1596, wherein 
the General Assembly, and all the kirk-judicatories, with the concurrence 
of many of the nobility, gentry, and burgesses, did, with many tears, 
acknowledge before God the breach of the National Covenant, and en- 



364 



AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SINS, 



gaged themselves to a reformation ; even as our predecessors and theirs 
had before done, in the General Assembly and Convention of Estates, in 
the year 1567 ; and perceiving that this duty, when gone about out of 
conscience and in sincerity, hath always been attended with a reviving 
out of troubles, and with a blessing and success from Heaven ; we do 
humbly and sincerely, as in his sight, who is the Searcher of hearts, ac- 
knowledge the many sins and great transgressions of the land : we have 
done wickedly, our kings, our princes, our nobles, our judges, our officers, 
our teachers, and our people. Albeit the Lord hath long and clearly 
spoken unto us, we have not hearkened to his voice ; albeit he hath fol- 
lowed us with tender mercies, we have not been allured to wait upon 
him, and walk in his way ; and though he hath stricken us, yet we have 
not grieved ; nay, though he hath consumed us, we have refused to re- 
ceive correction : we have not remembered to render unto the Lord ac- 
cording to his goodness, and according to our own vows and promises, 
but have gone away backward by a continued course of backsliding, and 
have broken all the articles of that Solemn League and Covenant, which 
we swore before God, angels, and men. 

Albeit there be in the land many of all ranks, who be for a testimony 
unto the truth, and for a name of joy and praise unto the Lord, by living 
godly, studying to keep their garments pure, and being stedfast in the 
covenant and cause of God ; yet we have reason to acknowledge, that 
most of us have not endeavoured, with that reality, sincerity, and con- 
stancy that did become us, to preserve the work of reformation in the kirk 
of Scotland : many have satisfied themselves with the purity of the ordi- 
nances, neglecting the power thereof; yea, some have turned aside to 
crooked ways, destructive to both. The profane, loose, and insolent 
carriage of many in our armies, who went to the assistance of our brethren 
in England, and the tamperings and unstraight dealing of some of our 
Commissioners, and others of our nation, in London, the Isle of Wight, 
and other places of that kingdom, have proved great lets to the work of 
reformation and settling of kirk-government there, whereby error and 
schism in that land have been increased, and sectaries hardened in their 
way. We have been so far from endeavouring the extirpation of profane- 
ness, and what is contrary to the power of godliness, that profanity hath 
been much winked at, and profane persons much countenanced, and many 
times employed, until iniquity and ungodliness hath gone over the face of 
the land as a flood ; nay, sufficient care hath not been had to separate 
betwixt the precious and the vile, by debarring from the sacrament all 
ignorant and scandalous persons, according to the ordinances of this kirk. 

Neither have the privileges of the Parliaments and liberties of the sub- 
ject been duly tendered ; but some amongst ourselves have laboured to 
put into the hands of our King an arbitrary and unlimited power, destruc- 
tive to both ; and many of us have been accessory of late to those means 
and ways, whereby the freedom and privileges of Parliaments have been 
encroached upon, and the subjects oppressed in their consciences, persons, 
and estates ; neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which 
might harden the King in his evil way ; but, upon the contrary, he hath 
not only been permitted, but many of us have been instrumental to make 
him exercise his power, in many things tending to the prejudice of reli- 
gion, and of the Covenant, and of the peace and safety of these kingdoms ; 
which is so far from the right way of preserving his Majesty's person and 
authority, that it cannot but provoke the Lord against him, unto the 



AND ENGAGEMENT TO DUTIES. 



365 



hazard of both; nay, under a pretence of relieving and doing for the 
King, whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the house of God, 
some have ranversed and violated most of all the articles of the Covenant. 

Our own conscience within, and God's judgments upon us without, do 
convince us of the manifold wilful renewed breaches of that article which 
concerneth the discovery and punishment of malignants, whose crimes 
have not only been connived at, but dispensed with and pardoned, and 
themselves received into intimate fellowship with ourselves, and intrusted 
with our counsels, admitted into our Parliaments, and put in places of 
power and authority, for managing the publick affairs of the kingdom ; 
whereby, in God's justice, they got at last into their hands the whole 
power and strength of the kingdom, both in judicatories and armies ; and 
did employ the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful en- 
gagement in war against the kingdom of England, notwithstanding of the 
dissent of many considerable members of Parliament, who had given con- 
stant proof of their integrity in the cause from the beginning ; of many 
faithful testimonies, and free warnings of the servants of God ; of the 
supplications of many synods, presbyteries, and shires ; and of the declara- 
tions of the General Assembly and their Commissioners to the contrary : 
which engagement, as it hath been the cause of much sin, so also of much 
misery and calamity unto this land ; and holds forth to us the grievous- 
ness of our sin, of complying with malignants in the greatness of our 
judgment, that we may be taught never to split again upon the same rock, 
upon which the Lord hath set so remarkable a beacon. And after all 
that is come to pass unto us because of this our trespass ; and after that 
grace hath been shewed unto us from the Lord our God, by breaking 
these men's yoke from off our necks, and putting us again into a capacity 
to act for the good of religion, our own safety, and the peace and the 
safety of this kingdom, should we again break this commandment and 
covenant, by joining once more with the people of these abominations, 
and taking into our bosom those serpents, which had formerly stung us * 
almost unto death ; this, as it would argue great madness and folly upon 
our part, so, no doubt, if it be not avoided, will provoke the Lord against 
us, to consume us, until there be no remnant nor escaping in the land. 

And albeit the peace and union betwixt the kingdoms be a great bless- 
ing of God unto both, and a bond which we are obliged to preserve un- 
violated, and to endeavour that justice may be done upon the opposers 
thereof; yet some in this land, who have come under the bond of the 
Covenant, have made it their great study how to dissolve this union ; and 
few or no endeavours have been used by any of us for punishing of such. 

We have suffered many of our brethren, in several parts of the land, to 
be oppressed by the common enemy, without compassion or relief. There 
hath been great murmuring and repining, because of expence of means, 
and pains in doing of our duty. Many, by persuasion or terror, have 
suffered themselves to be divided and withdrawn, to make defection to the 
contrary part : many have turned off to a detestable indifferency and neu- 
trality in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God, and the 
good of these kingdoms ; nay, many have made it their study to walk so, 
as they might comply with all times, and all the revolutions thereof. It 
hath not been our care to countenance, encourage, intrust, and employ 
such only, as from their hearts did affect and mind God's work ; but the 
hearts of such many times have been discouraged, and their hands weak- 
ened, their sufferings neglected, and themselves slighted ; and many, who 



366 



AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SINS, 



were once open enemies, and always secret underminers, countenanced 
and employed: nay, even those who had been looked upon as incendi- 
aries, and upon whom the Lord has set marks of desperate malignancy, 
falsehood, and deceit, were brought in, as fit to manage publick affairs : 
many have been the lets and impediments that have been cast in the way, 
to retard and obstruct the Lord's work ; and some have kept secret, what 
of themselves they were not able to suppress and overcome. 

Besides these, and many other breaches of the articles of the Covenant 
in the matter thereof, which it concerneth every one of us to search out 
and acknowledge before the Lord, as we would wish his wrath to be 
turned away from us ; so have many of us failed exceedingly in the man- 
ner of our following and pursuing the duties contained therein ; not only 
seeking great things for ourselves, and mixing of our private interests 
and ends concerning ourselves, and friends, and followers, with those 
things which concern the publick good ; but many times preferring such 
to the honour of God, and good of his cause, and retarding God's work, 
until we might carry along with us our own interests and designs. It 
hath been our way to trust in the means, and to rely upon the arm of 
flesh for success, albeit the Lord hath many times made us meet with dis- 
appointment therein, and stained the pride of all our glory, by blasting 
every carnal confidence unto us : we have followed for the most part the 
counsels of flesh and blood, and walked more by the rules of policy than 
piety, and have hearkened more unto men than unto God. 

Albeit we made solemn publick profession before the world, of our un- 
feigned desires to be humbled before the Lord for our own sins, and the 
sins of these kingdoms, especially for our undervaluing of the inestimable 
benefit of the gospel, and that we have not laboured for the power thereof, 
and received Christ into our hearts, and walked worthy of him in our 
lives ; and of our true and unfeigned purpose, desire, and endeavour, for 
ourselves, and all others under our power and charge, both in publick and 
private, in all the duties which we owe to God and man, to amend our 
lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real reforma- 
tion, that the Lord might turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, 
and establish these kirks and kingdoms in truth and peace ; yet we have 
refused to be reformed, and have walked proudly and obstinately against 
the Lord, not valuing his gospel, nor submitting ourselves unto the 
obedience thereof ; not seeking after Christ, not studying to honour him 
in the excellency of his person, nor employ him in the virtue of his 
offices; nor making conscience of publick ordinances, nor private nor 
secret duties ; nor studying to edify one another in love. Ignorance of 
God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, prevails exceedingly in the land ; the 
greatest part of masters of families, amongst Noblemen, Barons, Gentle- 
men, Burgesses, and Commons, neglect to seek God in their families, and 
to endeavour the reformation thereof; and albeit it hath been much 
pressed, yet few of our nobles and great ones, ever to this day, could be 
persuaded to perform family- duties themselves, and in their own persons ; 
which makes so necessary and useful a duty to be misregarded by others 
of inferior rank ; nay, many of the Nobility, Gentry, and Burrows, who 
should have been examples of godliness and sober walking unto others, 
have been ringleaders of excess and rioting. Albeit we be the Lord's 
people, engaged to him in a solemn way ; yet to this day we have not 
made it our study, that judicatories and armies should consist of, and 
places of power and trust be filled with, men of a blameless and Christian 



AND ENGAGEMENT TO DUTIES. 



367 



conversation, and of known integrity, and approven fidelity, affection, and 
zeal, unto the cause of God ; but not only those who have been neutral 
and indifferent, but disaffected and malignant, and others who have been 
profane and scandalous, have been intrusted : by which it hath come to 
pass, that judicatories have been the seats of injustice and iniquity ; and 
many in our armies, by their miscarriages, have become our plague, unto 
the great prejudice of the cause of God, the great scandal of the gospel, 
and the great increase of looseness and profanity throughout all the land. 
It were impossible to reckon up all the abominations that are in the land ; 
but the blaspheming of the name of God, swearing by the creatures, pro- 
fanation of the Lord's day, uncleanness, drunkenness, excess and rioting, 
vanity of apparel, lying and deceit, railing and cursing, arbitrary and un- 
controuled oppression, and grinding of the faces of the poor by landlords, 
and others in place and power, are become ordinary and common sins ; 
and besides all these things, there be many other transgressions, whereof 
the lands wherein we live are guilty. All which we desire to acknowledge 
and to be humbled for, that the world may bear witness with us, that 
righteousness belongeth unto God, and shame and confusion of face unto 
us, as appears this day. 

And because it is needful for those who find mercy, not only to confess, 
but also to forsake their sin ; therefore, that the reality and sincerity of 
our repentance may appear, we do resolve and solemnly engage ourselves, 
before the Lord, carefully to avoid for the time to come all these offences, 
whereof we have now made solemn publick acknowledgment, and all the 
snares and tentations which tend thereunto ; and to testify the integrity 
of our resolution herein, and that we may be the better enabled in the 
power of the Lord's strength to perform the same, we do again renew our 
Solemn League and Covenant; promising hereafter to make conscience of 
all the duties whereunto we are obliged, in all the heads and articles 
thereof, particularly of these that follow. 

1. Because religion is of all things the most excellent and precious, the 
advancing and promoting the power thereof against all ungodliness and 
profanity, the securing and preserving the purity thereof against all error, 
heresy, and schism, and namely, Independency, Anabaptism, Antinomian- 
ism, Arminianism, and Socinianism, Familism, Libertinism, Scepticism, and 
Erastianism, and the carrying on the work of uniformity, shall be studied 
and endeavoured by us before all worldly interests, whether concerning 
the King, ourselves, or any other whatsomever. 2. Because many have of 
late laboured to supplant the liberties of the kirk, we shall maintain and 
defend the kirk of Scotland, in all her liberties and privileges, against all 
who shall oppose or undermine the same, or encroach thereupon, under 
any pretext whatsomever. 3. We shall vindicate and maintain the liber- 
ties of the subjects, in all these things which concern their consciences, 
persons, and estates. 4. We shall carefully maintain and defend the 
union betwixt the kingdoms, and avoid every thing that may weaken the 
same, or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of those 
who have invaded the kingdom of England. 5. As we have been always 
loyal to our King, so we shall still endeavour to give unto God that which 
is God's, and to Cesar the things which are Cesar's. 6. We shall be so 
far from conniving at, complying with, or countenancing of, malignancy, 
injustice, iniquity, profanity, and impiety, that we shall not only avoid 
and discountenance those things, and cherish and encourage these persons 
who are zealous for the cause of God, and walk according to the gospel ; 



36S 



AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SINS, &o. 



but also shall take a more effectual course than heretofore, in our respec- 
tive places and callings, for punishing and suppressing these evils ; and 
faithfully endeavour, that the best and fittest remedies may be applied 
for takirig away the causes thereof, and advancing the knowledge of God, 
and holiness and righteousness in the land. And therefore, in the last 
place, as we shall earnestly pray unto God, that he would give us able 
men, fearing God, men of truth, and hating covetousness, to judge and bear 
charge among his people ; so we shall, according to our places and call- 
ings, endeavour that judicatories, and all places of power and trust, both 
in kirk and state, may consist of, and be filled with, such men as are of 
known good affection to the cause of God, and of a blameless and Chris- 
tian conversation. 

And, because there be many, who heretofore have not made conscience 
of the oath of God, but some through fear, others by persuasion, and upon 
base ends and human interests, have entered thereinto, who have after- 
wards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord, in 
swearing falsely by his name; therefore we, who do now renew our 
Covenant, in reference to these duties, and all other duties contained 
therein, do, in the sight of him who is the Searcher of hearts, solemnly 
profess, that it is not upon any politick advantage, or private interest or 
by-end, or because of any terror or persuasion from men, or hypocritically 
and deceitfully, that we do again take upon us the oath of God, but 
honestly and sincerely, and from the sense of our duty ; and that there- 
fore, denying ourselves, and our own things, and laying aside all self- 
interest and ends, we shall above all things seek the honour of God, the 
good of his cause, and the wealth of his people ; and that forsaking the 
counsels of flesh and blood, and not leaning upon carnal confidences, we 
shall depend upon the Lord, walk by the rule of his word, and hearken 
to the voice of his servants. In all which, professing our own weakness, 
we do earnestly pray to God, who is the Father of mercies, through his 
Son Jesus Christ, to be merciful unto us, and to enable us, by the power 
of his might, that we may do our duty, unto the praise of his grace in 
the churches. Amen. 



THE DIRECTORY 

FOR 

THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD; 

AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE 
ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
AS A TART OF THE COVENANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION 
BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS 
OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND : 

WITH 

AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND ACT OF PARLIAMENT, BOTH IN ANNO 1645, 
APPROVING AND ESTABLISHING THE SAID DIRECTORY. 



1 Cor. xiv. 40. — Let all things be done decently, and in order. 
Ver. 26. — Let all things be done unto edifying. 



THE CONTENTS. 



The Preface. 

Of the Assembling of the Congregation. 

Of Publick Reading of the Holy Scriptures. 

Of Publick Prayer before the Sermon. 

Of Preaching of the Word. 

Of Prayer after Sermon. 

Of the Sacrament of Baptism. 

Of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. 

Of the Sanctification of the Lord's Day. 



Of the Solemnization of Marriage. 

Of the Visitation of the Sick. 

Of the Burial of the Dead. 

Of Publick Solemn Fasting. 

Of the Observation of Days of Publick 

Thanksgiving. 
Of Singing of Psalms. 
An Appendix touching Days and Places 

of Publick Worship. 



371 



Charles I. Pari. 3. Sess. 5. 

An Act of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Scotland, approving and establishing the 
Directory for Publick Worship. 

At Edinburgh, February 6, 1645. 

THE Estates of Parliament now convened, in the second session of this first triennial 
Parliament, by virtue of the last act of the last Parliament holden by his Majesty 
and the Three Estates, in anno 1641 ; after the publick reading and serious considera- 
tion of the act under-written of the General Assembly, approving the following 
Directory for the publick worship of God in the three kingdoms, lately united by the 
Solemn League and Covenant, together with the ordinance of the Parliament of England 
establishing the said Directory, and the Directory itself ; do heartily and cheerfully 
agree to the said Directory, according to the act of the General Assembly approving 
the same. Which act, together with the Directory itself, the Estates of Parliament 
do, without a contrary voice, ratify and approve in all the Heads and Articles thereof; 
and do interpone and add the authority of Parliament to the said act of the General 
Assembly. And do ordain the same to have the strength and force of a law and act 
of Parliament, and execution to pass thereupon, for observing the said Directory, 
according to the said act of the General Assembly in all points. 

ALEX. GIBSON, Cler. Registri. 



Assembly at Edinburgh, February 3, 1645. Sess. 10. 
Act of the General Assembly oftlie Kirk of Scotland, for the establishing and putting 
in Execution of the Directory for the Publick Worship of God. 

WHEREAS an happy unity, and uniformity in religion amongst the kirks of Christ, 
in these three kingdoms, united under one Sovereign, having been long and 
earnestly wished for by the godly and well-affected amongst us, was propounded as a 
main article of the large treaty, without which band and bulwark, no safe, well- 
grounded, and lasting peace could be expected ; and afterward, with greater strength 
and maturity, revived in the Solemn League and Covenant of the three kingdoms; 
whereby they stand straitly obliged to endeavour the nearest uniformity in one form of 
Church government, Directory of Worship, Confession of Faith, and Form of Cate- 
chising; which hath also before, and since our entering into that Covenant, been the 
matter of many supplications and remonstrances, and sending Commissioners to the 
King's Majesty; of declarations to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of Eng- 
land, and of letters to the Reverend Assembly of Divines, and others of the ministry 
of the kirk of England; being also the end of our sending Commissioners, as was 
desired, from this kirk, with commission to treat of uniformity in the four particulars 
afore-mentioned, with such committees as should be appointed by both Houses of 
Parliament of England, and by the Assembly of Divines sitting at Westminster; and 
beside all this, it being, in point of conscience, the chief motive and end of our 
adventuring upon manifold and great hazards, for quenching the devouring flame of 
the present unnatural and bloody war in England, though to the weakening of this 
kingdom within itself, and the advantage of the enemy which have invaded it; 
accounting nothing too dear to us, so that this our joy be fulfilled. And now this 
great work being so far advanced, that a Directory for the Publick Worship of God in all 
the three kingdoms being agreed upon by the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of 
England, after consultation with the Divines of both kingdoms there assembled, and 
sent to us for our approbation, that, being also agreed upon by this kirk and kingdom 
of Scotland, it may be in the name of both kingdoms presented to the King, for his 
royal consent and ratification ; the General Assembly, having most seriously consi- 
dered, revised, and examined the Directory afore-mentioned, after several publick 
readings of it, after much deliberation, both publickly and in private committees, 
after full liberty given to all to object against it, and earnest invitations of all who 
have any scruples about it, to make known the same, that they might be satisfied; 



1 



372 



doth unanimously, and without a contrary voice, agree to and approve the following 
Directory, in all the heads thereof, together with the Preface set before it ; and doth 
require, decern, and ordain, That, according to the plain tenor and meaning thereof, 
and the intent of the Preface, it be carefully and uniformly observed and practised 
by all the ministers and others within this kingdom whom it doth concern ; which 
practice shall be begun, upon intimation given to the several presbyteries from the 
Commissioners of this General Assembly, who shall also take special care for timeous 
printing of this Directory, that a printed copy of it be provided and kept for the use 
of every kirk in this kingdom; also that each presbytery have a printed copy thereof 
for their use, and take special notice of the observation or neglect thereof in every 
congregation within their bounds, and make known the same to the Provincial or 
General Assembly, as there shall be cause. Provided always, That the clause in the 
Directory, of the administration of the Lord's Supper, which mentioneth the communi- 
cants sitting about the table, or at it, be not interpreted as if, in the judgment of this 
kirk, it were indifferent, and free for any of the communicants not to come to, and 
receive at the table; or as if we did approve the distributing of the elements by the 
J minister to each communicant, and not by the communicants among themselves. It 
is also provided, That this shall be no prejudice to the order and practice of this 
kirk, in such particulars as are appointed by the books of discipline, and acts of 
General Assemblies, and are not otherwise ordered and appointed in the Directory. 

Finally, The Assembly doth, with much joy and thankfulness, acknowledge the 
rich blessing and invaluable mercy of God, in bringing the so much wished for 
uniformity in religion to such a happy period, that these kingdoms, once at so great 
a distance in the form of worship, are now, by the blessing of God, brought to a nearer 
uniformity than any other reformed kirks; which is unto us the return of our prayers, 
and a lightening of our eyes, and reviving of our hearts in the midst of our many 
sorrows and sufferings: a taking away, in a great measure, the reproach of the people 
of God. to the stopping of the mouths of malignant and disaffected persons ; and an 
opening unto us a door of hope, that God hath yet thoughts of peace towards us, and 
not of evil, to give us an expected end ; in the expectation and confidence whereof we 
do rejoice; beseeching the Lord to preserve these kingdoms from heresies, schisms, 
offences, profaneness, and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine, and the power of 
godliness ; and to continue with us, and the generations following, these his pure and 
purged ordinances, together with an increase of the power and life thereof, to the glory 
of his great name, the enlargement of the kingdom of his Son, the corroboration of 
peace and love between the kingdoms, the unity and comfort of all his people, and our 
edifying one another in love. 



s iorrgi tie rft 

[U&9HI Sfft Ol 

titisioqw lis 



THE DIRECTORY 

FOR 

THE PTJBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



THE PREFACE. 

IN the beginning of the blessed Reformation, our wise and pious ances- 
tors took care to set forth an order for redress of many things, which 
they then, by the word, discovered to be vain, erroneous, superstitious, 
and idolatrous, in the publick worship of God. This occasioned many 
godly and learned men to rejoice much in the Book of Common Prayer, 
at that time set forth ; because the mass, and the rest of the Latin service 
being removed, the publick worship was celebrated in our own tongue : 
many of the common people also receive benefit by hearing the scriptures 
read in their own language, which formerly were unto them as a book 
that is sealed. 

Howbeit, long and sad experience hath made it manifest, that the 
Liturgy used in the Church of England, (notwithstanding all the pains 
and religious intentions of the Compilers of it,) hath proved an offence, 
not only to many of the godly at home, but also to the reformed Churches 
abroad. For, not to speak of urging the reading of all the prayers, which 
very greatly increased the burden of it, the many unprofitable and bur- 
densome ceremonies contained in it have occasioned much mischief, as 
well by disquieting the consciences of many godly ministers and people, 
who could not yield unto them, as by depriving them of the ordinances of 
God, which they might not enjoy without conforming or subscribing to 
those ceremonies. Sundry good Christians have been, by means thereof, 
kept from the Lord's table ; and divers able and faithful ministers debarred 
from the exercise of their ministry, (to the endangering of many thousand 
souls, in a time of such scarcity of faithful pastors,) and spoiled of their 
livelihood, to the undoing of them and their families. Prelates, and their 
faction, have laboured to raise the estimation of it to such a height, as if 
there were no other worship, or way of worship of God, amongst us, but 
only the Service-book ; to the great hinderance of the preaching of the 
word, and (in some places, especially of late) to the justling of it out as 
unnecessary, or at best, as far inferior to the reading of common prayer ; 
which was made no better than an idol by many ignorant and superstitious 
people, who, pleasing themselves in their presence at that service, and 
their lip-labour in bearing a part in it, have thereby hardened themselves 
in their ignorance and carelessness of saving knowledge and true piety. 

In the meantime, Papists boasted that the book was a compliance with 
them in a great part of their service ; and so were not a little confirmed in 
their superstition and idolatry, expecting rather our return to them, than 



374 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



endeavouring the reformation of themselves : in which expectation they 
were of late very much encouraged, when, upon the pretended warrant- 
ableness of imposing of the former ceremonies, new ones were daily ob- 
truded upon the Church. 

Add hereunto, (which was not foreseen, but since have come to pass,) 
that the Liturgy hath been a great means, as on the one hand to make 
and increase an idle and unedifying ministry, which contented itself with 
set forms made to their hands by others, without putting forth themselves 
to exercise the gift of prayer, with which our Lord Jesus Christ pleaseth 
to furnish all his servants whom he calls to that office : so, on the other 
side, it hath been (and ever would be, if continued) a matter of endless 
strife and contention in the Church, and a snare both to many godly and 
faithful ministers, who have been persecuted and silenced upon that oc- 
casion, and to others of hopeful parts, many of which have been, and more 
still would be, diverted from all thoughts of the ministry to other studies ; 
especially in these latter times, wherein God vouchsafeth to his people 
more and better means for the discovery of error and superstition, and for 
attaining of knowledge in the mysteries of godliness, and gifts in preach- 
ing and prayer. 

Upon these, and many the like weighty considerations in reference to 
the whole book in general, and because of divers particulars contained in 
it ; not from any love to novelty, or intention to disparage our first refor- 
mers, (of whom we are persuaded, that, were they now alive, they would 
join with us in this work, and whom we acknowledge as excellent instru- 
ments, raised by God, to begin the purging and building of his house, and 
desire they may be had of us and posterity in everlasting remembrance, 
with thankfulness and honour,) but that we may in some measure answer 
the gracious providence of God, which at this time calleth upon us for 
further reformation, and may satisfy our own consciences, and answer the 
expectation of other reformed churches, and the desires of many of the 
godly among ourselves, and withal give some publick testimony of our 
endeavours for uniformity in divine worship, which we have promised in 
our Solemn League and Covenant ; we have, after earnest and frequent 
calling upon the name of God, and after much consultation, not with flesh 
i and blood, but with his holy word, resolved to lay aside the former Liturgy, 
with the many rites and ceremonies formerly used in the worship of God ; 
and have agreed upon this following Directory for all the parts of publick 
worship, at ordinary and extraordinary times. 

Wherein our care hath been to hold forth such things as are of divine 
institution in every ordinance ; and other things we have endeavoured to 
set forth according to the rules of Christian prudence, agreeable to the 
general rules of the word of God ; our meaning therein being only, that 
the general heads, the sense and scope of the prayers, and other parts of 
publick worship, being known to all, there may be a consent of all the 
churches in those things that contain the substance of the service and wor- 
ship of God ; and the ministers may be hereby directed, in their adminis- 
trations, to keep like soundness in doctrine and prayer, and may, if need 
be, have some help and furniture, and yet so as they become not hereby 
. slothful and negligent in stirring up the gifts of Christ in them ; but that 
each one, by meditation, by taking heed to himself, and the flock of God 
committed to him, and by wise observing the ways of Divine Providence, 
may be careful to furnish his heart and tongue with further or other mate- 
rials of prayer and exhortation, as shall be needful upon all occasions. 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 375 



Of the Assembling of the Congregation, and their Behaviour in the Piiblick 
Worship of God. 

WHEN the congregation is to meet for publick worship, the people 
(having before prepared their hearts thereunto) ought all to come 
and join therein ; not absenting themselves from the publick ordinances 
through negligence, or upon pretence of private meetings. 

Let all enter the assembly, not irreverently, but in a grave and seemly 
manner, taking their seats or places without adoration, or bowing them- 
selves towards one place or other. 

The congregation being assembled, the minister, after solemn calling 
on them to the worshipping of the great name of God, is to begin with 
prayer. 

"In all reverence and humility acknowledging the incomprehensible 
" greatness and majesty of the Lord, (in whose presence they do then in 
ff a special manner appear,) and their own vileness and unworthiness to 
" approach so near him, with their utter inability of themselves to so great 
" a work ; and humbly beseeching him for pardon, assistance, and accept- 
" ance, in the whole service then to be performed ; and for a blessing on 
" that particular portion of his word then to be read : And all in the name 
ff and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ." 

The publick worship being begun, the people are wholly to attend upon 
it, forbearing to read any thing, except what the minister is then reading 
or citing ; and abstaining much more from all private whisperings, con- 
ferences, salutations, or doing reverence to any person present, or coming 
in ; as also from all gazing, sleeping, and other indecent behaviour, which 
may disturb the minister or people, or hinder themselves or others in the 
service of God. 

If any, through necessity, be hindered from being present at the be- 
ginning, they ought not, when they come into the congregation, to betake 
themselves to their private devotions, but reverently to compose themselves 
to join with the assembly in that ordinance of God which is then in hand. 

Of Publick Reading of the Holy Scriptures. 

READING of the word in the congregation, being part of the publick 
worship of God, (wherein we acknowledge our dependence upon 
him, and subjection to him,) and one mean sanctified by him for the edify- 
ing of his people, is to be performed by the pastors and teachers. 

Howbeit, such as intend the ministry, may occasionally both read the 
word, and exercise their gift in preaching in the congregation, if allowed 4 
by the presbytery thereunto. 

All the canonical books of the Old and New Testament (but none of 
those which are commonly called Apocrypha) shall be publickly read in 
the vulgar tongue, out of the best allowed translation, distinctly, that all 
may hear and understand. 

How large a portion shall be read at once, is left to the wisdom of the 
minister ; but it is convenient, that ordinarily one chapter of each Testa- 
ment be read at every meeting ; and sometimes more, where the chapters 
be short, or the coherence of matter requireth it. 

It is requisite that all the canonical books be read over in order, that 
the people may be better acquainted with the whole body of the scrip- 
tures; and ordinarily, where the reading in either Testament endeth on 
one Lord's day, it is to begin the next. 



376 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



We commend also the more frequent reading of such scriptures as he 
that readeth shall think best for edification of his hearers, as the book of 
Psalms, and such like. 

When the minister who readeth shall judge it necessary to expound any 
part of what is read, let it not be done until the whole chapter or psalm 
be ended ; and regard is always to be had unto the time, that neither 
preaching, nor other ordinances be straitened, or rendered tedious. Which 
rule is to be observed in all other publick performances. 

Beside publick reading of the holy scriptures, every person that can 
read, is to be exhorted to read the scriptures privately, (and all others 
that cannot read, if not disabled by age, or otherwise, are likewise to be 
exhorted to learn to read,) and to have a Bible. 

Of Publick Prayer before the Sermon. 

AFTER reading of the word, (and singing of the psalm,) the minister 
who is to preach, is to endeavour to get his own and his hearers 
hearts to be rightly affected with their sins, that they may all mourn in 
sense thereof before the Lord, and hunger and thirst after the grace of 
God in Jesus Christ, by proceeding to a more full confession of sin, with 
shame and holy confusion of face, and to call upon the Lord to this effect : 
" To acknowledge our great sinfulness, First, by reason of original sin, 
" which (beside the guilt that makes us liable to everlasting damnation) 
" is the seed of all other sins, hath depraved and poisoned all the facul- 
" ties and powers of soul and body, doth defile our best actions, and (were 
" it not restrained, or our hearts renewed by grace) would break forth 
" into innumerable transgressions, and greatest rebellions against the 
" Lord that ever were committed by the vilest of the sons of men ; and 
" next, by reason of actual sins, our own sins, the sins of magistrates, of 
" ministers, and of the whole nation, unto which we are many ways ac- 
" cessory : which sins of ours receive many fearful aggravations, we having 
" broken all the commandments of the holy, just, and good law of God, 
" doing that which is forbidden, and leaving undone what is enjoined; 
" and that not only out of ignorance and infirmity, but also more pre- 
" sumptuously, against the light of our minds, checks of our consciences, 
" and motions of his own Holy Spirit to the contrary, so that we have no 
" cloak for our sins ; yea, not only despising the riches of God's goodness, 
" forbearance, and long-suffering, but standing out against many invita- 
" tions and offers of grace in the gospel; not endeavouring, as we ought, 
" to receive Christ into our hearts by faith, or to walk worthy of him in 
" our lives. 

" To bewail our blindness of mind, hardness of heart, unbelief, impeni- 
" tency, security, lukewarmness, barrenness; or not endeavouring after * 
" mortification and newness of life, nor after the exercise of godliness in 
" the power thereof; and that the best of us have not so stedfastly walked 
u with God, kept our garments so unspotted, nor been so zealous of his 
" glory, and the good of others, as we ought : and to mourn over such 
" other sins as the congregation is particularly guilty of, notwithstanding 
" the manifold and great mercies of our God, the love of Christ, the light 
" of the gospel, and reformation of religion, our own purposes, promises, 
" vows, solemn covenant, and other special obligations, to the contrary. 

" To acknowledge and confess, that, as we are convinced of our guilt, 
" so, out of a deep sense thereof, we judge ourselves unworthy of the 
" smallest benefits, most worthy of God's fiercest wrath, and of all the 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 377 



" curses of the law, and heaviest judgments inflicted upon the most rebel- 
" lious sinners; and that he might most justly take his kingdom and gos- 
" pel from us, plague us with all sorts of spiritual and temporal judgments 
" in this life, and after cast us into utter darkness, in the lake that burneth 
" with fire and brimstone, where is weeping and gnashing of teeth for 
" evermore. 

" Notwithstanding all which, to draw near to the throne of grace, en- 
" couraging ourselves with hope of a gracious answer of our prayers, in 
" the riches and all-sufficiency of that only one oblation, the satisfaction 
" and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ, at the right hand of his Father 
" and our Father; and in confidence of the exceeding great and precious 
" promises of mercy and grace in the new covenant, through the same 
" Mediator thereof, to deprecate the heavy wrath and curse of God, which 
u we are not able to avoid, or bear; and humbly and earnestly to suppli- 
" cate for mercy, in the free and full remission of all our sins, and that 
" only for the bitter sufferings and precious merits of that our only Savi- 
" our Jesus Christ. 

" That the Lord would vouchsafe to shed abroad his love in our hearts 
" by the Holy Ghost; seal unto us, by the same Spirit of adoption, the 
" full assurance of our pardon and reconciliation ; comfort all that mourn 
" in Zion, speak peace to the wounded and troubled spirit, and bind up 
" the broken-hearted : and as for secure and presumptuous sinners, that 
" he would open their eyes, convince their consciences, and turn them 
" from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that 
" they also may receive forgiveness of sin, and an inheritance among them 
" that are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus. 

" With remission of sins through the blood of Christ, to pray for sancti- 
" fication by his Spirit; the mortification of sin dwelling in and many 
" times tyrannizing over us; the quickening of our dead spirits with the 
" life of God in Christ; grace to fit and enable us for all duties of con- 
" versation and callings towards God and men; strength against tempta- 
" tions; the sanctified use of blessings and crosses; and perseverance in 
" faith and obedience unto the end. 

" To pray for the propagation of the gospel and kingdom of Christ to 
" all nations; for the conversion of the Jews, the fulness of the Gentiles, 
" the fall of Antichrist, and the hastening of the second coming of our 
" Lord; for the deliverance of the distressed churches abroad from the 
" tyranny of the antichristian faction, and from the cruel oppressions and 
" blasphemies of the Turk; for the blessing of God upon the reformed 
" churches, especially upon the churches and kingdoms of Scotland, Eng- 
" land, and Ireland, now more strictly and religiously united in the Solemn 
" National League and Covenant; and for our plantations in the remote 
" parts of the world : more particularly for that church and kingdom 
" whereof we are members, that therein God would establish peace and 
" truth, the purity of all his ordinances, and the power of godliness; pre- 
" vent and remove heresy, schism, profaneness, superstition, security, and 
" unfruitfulness under the means of grace; heal all our rents and divisions, 
" and preserve us from breach of our Solemn Covenant. 

"To pray for all in authority, especially for the King's Majesty; that 
" God would make him rich in blessings, both in his person and govern- 
" ment ; establish his throne in religion and righteousness, save him from 
" evil counsel, and make him a blessed and glorious instrument for the 
" conservation and propagation of the gospel, for the encouragement and, 



378 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



" protection of them that do well, the terror of all that do evil, and the 
" great good of the whole church, and of all his kingdoms ; for the con- 
" version of the Queen, the religious education of the Prince, and the rest 
" of the royal seed; for the comforting of the afflicted Queen of Bohemia, 
" sister to our Sovereign ; and for the restitution and establishment of the 
" illustrious Prince Charles, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, to all his 
" dominions and dignities; for a blessing upon the High Court of Parlia- 
" ment, (when sitting in any of these kingdoms respectively,) the nobility, 
" the subordinate judges and magistrates, the gentry, and all the com- 
" monality; for all pastors and teachers, that God would fill them with 
" his Spirit, make them exemplarily holy, sober, just, peaceable, and gra- 

* cious in their lives; sound, faithful, and powerful in their ministry; and 
" follow all their labours with abundance of success and blessing ; and 
" give unto all his people pastors according to his own heart ; for the uni- 
" versities, and all schools and religious seminaries of church and common- 
" wealth, that they may flourish more and more in learning and piety; 
C* for the particular city or congregation, that God would pour out a bless- 
" ing upon the ministry of the word, sacraments, and discipline, upon 
" the civil government, and all the several families and persons therein ; 
" for mercy to the afflicted under any inward or outward distress; for 
f seasonable weather, and fruitful seasons, as the time may require; for 
" averting the judgments that we either feel or fear, or are liable unto, as 
" famine, pestilence, the sword, and such like. 

"And, with confidence of his mercy to his whole church, and theaccept- 
" ance of our persons, through the merits and mediation of our High 
" Priest, the Lord Jesus, to profess that it is the desire of our souls to have 
" fellowship with God in the reverend and conscionable use of his holy 
6 ordinances; and, to that purpose, to pray earnestly for his grace and 

* effectual assistance to the sanctification of his holy sabbath, the Lord's 
" day, in all the duties thereof, publick and private, both to ourselves, and 
" to all other congregations of his people, according to the riches and ex- 
" cellency of the gospel, this day celebrated and enjoyed. 

" And because we have been unprofitable hearers in times past, and 
" now cannot of ourselves receive, as we should, the deep things of God, 
" the mysteries of Jesus Christ, which require a spiritual discerning; to 
a pray, that the Lord, who teacheth to profit, would graciously please to 
" pour out the Spirit of grace, together with the outward means thereof, 
" causing us to attain such a measure of the excellency of the knowledge 
" of Christ Jesus our Lord, and,, in him, of the things which belong to our 
" peace, that we may account all things but as dross in comparison of him ; 

* and that we, tasting the first-fruits of the glory that is to be revealed, 
" may long for a more full and perfect communion with him,, that where 
" he is, we may be also, and enjoy the fulness of those joys and pleasures 
u which are at his right hand for evermore. 

" More particularly, that God would in a special manner furnish his 
" servant (now called to dispense the bread of life unto his household ) 
" with wisdom, fidelity, zeal, and utterance, that he may divide the word 
" of God aright, to every one his portion, in evidence and demonstration 
" of the Spirit and power ; and that the Lord would circumcise the ears 
" and hearts of the hearers, to hear, love, and receive with meekness the 
" ingrafted word, which is able to save their souls ; make them as good 
" ground to receive in the good seed of the word, and strengthen them 
" against the temptations of Satan, the cares of the world, the hardness of 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 379 



" their own hearts, and whatsoever else may hinder their profitable and 
" saving hearing; that so Christ may be so formed in them, and live in 
" them, that all their thoughts may be brought into captivity to the obe- 
" dience of Christ, and their hearts established in every good word and 
" work for ever/' 

We judge this to be a convenient order, in the ordinary public prayer; 
yet so, as the minister may defer (as in prudence he shall think meet) 
some part of these petitions till after his sermon, or offer up to God some 
of the thanksgivings hereafter appointed, in his prayer before his sermon. 

Of the Preaching of the Word. 

PREACHING of the word, being the power of God unto salvation, and 
one of the greatest and most excellent works belonging to the minis- 
try of the gospel, should be so performed, that the workman need not be 
ashamed, but may save himself, and those that hear him. 

It is presupposed, (according to the rules for ordination,) that the minister 
of Christ is in some good measure gifted for so weighty a service, by 
his skill in the original languages, and in such arts and sciences as are 
handmaids unto divinity; by his knowledge in the whole body of theo- 
logy, but most of all in the holy scriptures, having his senses and heart 
exercised in them above the common sort of believers ; and by the illumina- 
tion of God's Spirit, and other gifts of edification, which (together with 
reading and studying of the word) he ought still to seek by prayer, and 
an humble heart, resolving to admit and receive any truth not yet attained, 
whenever God shall make it known unto him. All which he is to make 
use of, and improve, in his private preparations, before he deliver in public 
what he hath provided. 

Ordinarily, the subject of his sermon is to be some text of scripture, 
holding forth some principle or head of religion, or suitable to some special 
occasion emergent ; or he may go on in some chapter, psalm, or book of 
the holy scripture, as he shall see fit. 

Let the introduction to his text be brief and perspicuous, drawn from 
the text itself, or context, or some parallel place, or general sentence of 
scripture. 

If the text be long, (as in histories or parables it sometimes must be,) 
let him give a brief sum of it ; if short, a paraphrase thereof, if need be : 
in both, looking diligently to the scope of the text, and pointing at the 
chief heads and grounds of doctrine which he is to raise from it. 

In analysing and dividing his text, he is to regard more the order of 
matter than of words ; and neither to burden the memory of the hearers 
in the beginning with too many members of division, nor to trouble their 
minds with obscure terms of art. 

In raising doctrines from the text, his care ought to be, First, That the 
matter be the truth of God. Secondly, That it be a truth contained in 
or grounded on that text, that the hearers may discern how God teacheth 
it from thence. Thirdly, That he chiefly insist upon those doctrines which 
are principally intended, and make most for the edification of the hearers. 

The doctrine is to be expressed in plain terms ; or, if any thing in it 
need explication, it is to be opened, and the consequence also from the 
text cleared. The parallel places of scripture, confirming the doctrine, 
are rather to be plain and pertinent, than many, and (it need be) some- 
what insisted upon, and applied to the purpose in hand. 

The arguments or reasons are to be solid, and, as much as may be, con- 



380 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



vincing. The illustrations, of what kind soever, ought to be full of light, 
and such as may convey the truth into the hearer's heart with spiritual 
delight. 

If any doubt obvious from scripture, reason, or prejudice of the hearers, 
seem to arise, it is very requisite to remove it, by reconciling the seeming 
differences, answering the reasons, and discovering and taking away the 
causes of prejudice and mistake. Otherwise it is not fit to detain the 
hearers with propounding or answering vain or wicked cavils, which, as 
they are endless, so the propounding and answering of them doth more 
hinder than promote edification. 

He is not to rest in general doctrine, although never so much cleared 
and confirmed, but to bring it home to special use, by application to his 
hearers : which albeit it prove a work of great difficulty to himself, re- 
quiring much prudence, zeal, and meditation, and to the natural and cor- 
rupt man will be very unpleasant ; yet he is to endeavour to perform it in 
such a manner, that his auditors may feel the word of God to be quick 
and powerful, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart ; 
and that, if any unbeliever or ignorant person be present, he may have 
the secrets of his heart made manifest, and give glory to God. 

In the use of instruction or information in the knowledge of some truth, 
which is a consequence from his doctrine, he may (when convenient) con- 
firm it by a few firm arguments from the text in hand, and other places of 
scripture, or from the nature of that common-place in divinity, whereof 
that truth is a branch. 

In confutation of false doctrines, he is neither to raise an old heresy 
from the grave, nor to mention a blasphemous opinion unnecessarily : but, 
if the people be in danger of an error, he is to confute it soundly, and 
endeavour to satisfy their judgments and consciences against all objec- 
tions. 

In exhorting to duties, he is, as he seeth cause, to teach also the means 
that help to the performance of them. 

In dehortation, reprehension, and publick admonition, (which require 
special wisdom,) let him, as there shall be cause, not only discover the 
nature and greatness of the sin, with the misery attending it, but also shew 
the danger his hearers are in to be overtaken and surprised by it, together 
with the remedies and best way to avoid it. 

In applying comfort, whether general against all temptations, or parti- 
cular against some special troubles or terrors, he is carefully to answer 
such objections as a troubled heart and afflicted spirit may suggest to the 
contrary. 

It is also sometimes requisite to give some notes of trial, (which is very 
profitable, especially when performed by able and experienced ministers, 
with circumspection and prudence, and the signs clearly grounded on the 
holy scripture,) whereby the hearers may be able to examine themselves 
whether they have attained those graces, and performed those duties, to 
which he exhorteth, or be guilty of the sin reprehended, and in danger 
of the judgments threatened, or are such to whom the consolations pro- 
pounded do belong ; that accordingly they may be quickened and excited 
to duty, humbled for their wants and sins, affected with their danger, and 
strengthened with comfort, as their condition, upon examination, shall 
require. 

And, as he needeth not always to prosecute every doctrine which lies 
in his text, so is he wisely to make choice of such uses, as, by his residence 



THE DIRECTORY FOR, THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 3S1 



and conversing with his flock, he findeth most needful and seasonable ; 
and, amongst these, such as may most draw their souls to Christ, the foun- 
tain of light, holiness, and comfort. 

This method is not prescribed as necessary for every man, or upon every 
text ; but only recommended, as being found by experience to be very 
much blessed of God, and very helpful for the people's understandings and 
memories. 

But the servant of Christ, whatever his method be, is to perform his 
whole ministry : 

1. Painfully, not doing the work of the Lord negligently. 

2. Plainly, that the meanest may understand ; delivering the truth not 
in the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit 
and of power, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect ; ab- 
staining also from an unprofitable use of unknown tongues, strange phrases, 
and cadences of sounds and words ; sparingly citing sentences of eccle- 
siastical or other human writers, ancient or modern, be they never so elegant. 

3. Faithfully, looking at the honour of Christ, the conversion, edifica- 
tion, and salvation of the people, not at his own gain or glory ; keeping 
nothing back which may promote those holy ends, giving to every one his 
own portion, and bearing indifferent respect unto all, without neglecting 
the meanest, or sparing the greatest, in their sins. 

4. Wisely, framing all his doctrines, exhortations, and especially his re- 
proofs, in such a manner as may be most likely to prevail ; shewing all due 
respect to each man's person and place, and not mixing his own passion or 
bitterness. 

5. Gravely, as becometh the word of God ; shunning all such gesture, 
voice, and expressions, as may occasion the corruptions of men to despise 
him and his ministry. 

6. With loving affection, that the people may see all coming from his 
godly zeal, and hearty desire to do them good. And, 

7. As taught of God, and persuaded in his own heart, that all that he 
teach eth is the truth of Christ ; and walking before his flock, as an ex- 
ample to them in it ; earnestly, both in private and publick, recommend- 
ing his labours to the blessing of God, and watchfully looking to himself, 
and the flock whereof the Lord hath made him overseer : So shall the 
doctrine of truth be preserved uncorrupt, many souls converted and built 
up, and himself receive manifold comforts of his labours even in this life, 
and afterward the crown of glory laid up for him in the world to come. 

Where there are more ministers in a congregation than one, and they of 
different gifts, each may more especially apply himself to doctrine or ex- 
hortation, according to the gift wherein he most excelleth, and as they 
shall agree between themselves. 

Of Prayer after Sermon. 

THE sermon being ended, the minister is " To give thanks for the great 
" love of God, in sending his Son Jesus Christ unto us ; for the com- 
" munication of his Holy Spirit ; for the light and liberty of the glorious 
" gospel, and the rich and heavenly blessings revealed therein ; as, namely, 
"election, vocation, adoption, justification, sanctification, and hope of 
" glory ; for the admirable goodness of God in freeing the land from anti- 
" christian darkness and tyranny, and for all other national deliverances ; 
" for the reformation of religion ; for the covenant ; and for many tem- 
" poral blessings. 



382 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



" To pray for the continuance of the gospel, and all ordinances thereof, 
" in their purity, power, and liberty : to turn the chief and most useful 
" heads of the sermon into some few petitions ; and to pray that it may 
"abide in the heart, and bring forth fruit. 

" To pray for preparation for death and judgment, and a watching for 
" the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ : to entreat of God the forgiveness 
\f of the iniquities of our holy things, and the acceptation of our spiritual 
" sacrifice, through the merit and mediation of our great High Priest and 
" Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ." 

And because the prayer which Christ taught his disciples is not only a 
pattern of prayer, but itself a most comprehensive prayer, we recommend 
it also to be used in the prayers of the church. 

And whereas, at the administration of the sacraments, the holding pub- 
lick fasts and days of thanksgiving, and other special occasions, which may 
afford matter of special petitions and thanksgivings, it is requisite to ex- 
press somewhat in our publick prayers, (as at this time it is our duty to 
pray for a blessing upon the Assembly of Divines, the armies by sea and 
land, for the defence of the King, Parliament, and Kingdom,) every minis- 
ter is herein to apply himself in his prayer, before or after sermon, to 
those occasions : but, for the manner, he is left to his liberty, as God shall 
direct and enable him in piety and wisdom to discharge his duty. 

The prayer ended, let a psalm be sung, if with conveniency it may be 
done. After which (unless some other ordinance of Christ, that concerneth 
the congregation at that time, be to follow) let the minister dismiss the 
congregation with a solemn blessing. 

Of the Administration of the Sacraments : 

AND FIRST, OF BAPTISM. 

BAPTISM, as it is not unnecessarily to be delayed, so it is not to be 
administered in any case by any private person, but by a minister 
of Christ, called to be the steward of the mysteries of God. 

Nor is it to be administered in private places, or privately, but in the 
._ place of publick worship, and in the face of the congregation, where the 
people may most conveniently see and hear; and not in the places where 
fonts, in the time of Popery, were unfitly and superstitiously placed. 

The child to be baptized after notice given to the minister the day be- 
fore, is to be presented by the father, or (in case of his necessary absence) 
by some Christian friend in his place, professing his earnest desire that 
the child may be baptized. 

Before baptism, the minister is to use some words of instruction, touch- 
ing the institution, nature, use, and ends of this sacrament, shewing, 

" That it is instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ: That it is a seal of 
" the covenant of grace, of our ingrafting into Christ, and of our union 
" with him, of remission of sins, regeneration, adoption, and life eternal : 
" That the water, in baptism, representeth and signifieth both the blood 
H of Christ, which taketh away all guilt of sin, original and actual; and 
" the sanctifying virtue of the Spirit of Christ against the dominion of 
" sin, and the corruption of our sinful nature : That baptizing, or sprink- 
" ling and washing with water, signifieth the cleansing from sin by the 
" blood and for the merit of Christ, together with the mortification of sin, 
" and rising from sin to newness of life, by virtue of the death and resur- 
" rection of Christ : That the promise is made to believers and their seed ; 
" and that the seed and posterity of the faithful, born within the church, 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 383 

" have, by their birth, interest in the covenant, and right to the seal of it, 
" and to the outward privileges of the church, under the gospel, no less 
" than the children of Abraham in the time of the Old Testament ; the 
" covenant of grace, for substance, being the same ; and the grace of God, 
" and the consolation of believers, more plentiful than before : That the 
" Son of God admitted little children into his presence, embracing and 
H blessing them, saying, For of such is the kingdom of God: That children, 
" by baptism, are solemnly received into the bosom of the visible church, 
" distinguished from the world, and them that are without, and united 
g with believers; and that all who are baptized in the name of Christ, do 
" renounce, and by their baptism are bound to tight against the devil, the 
" world, and the flesh ; That they are Christians, and federally holy be- 
" fore baptism, and therefore are they baptized : That the inward grace 
" and virtue of baptism is not tied to that very moment of time wherein 
" it is administered; and that the fruit and power thereof reacheth to the 
" whole course of our life; and that outward baptism is not so necessary, 
" that, through the want thereof, the infant is in danger of damnation, or 
" the parents guilty, if they do not contemn or neglect the ordinance of 
" Christ, when and where it may be had." 

In these or the like instructions, the minister is to use his own liberty 
and godly wisdom, as the ignorance or errors in the doctrine of baptism, 
and the edification of the people, shall require. 

He is also to admonish all that are present, 

f To look back to their baptism ; to repent of their sins against their 
" covenant with God; to stir up their faith; to improve and make right 
" use of their baptism, and of the covenant sealed thereby betwixt God 
" and their souls." 

He is to exhort the parent, 

" To consider the great mercy of God to him and his child ; to bring 
" up the child in the knowledge of the grounds of the Christian religion, 
" and in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ; and to let him know 
" the danger of God's wrath to himself and child, if he be negligent : re- 
" quiring his solemn promise for the performance of his duty." 

This being done, prayer is also to be joined with the word of institu- 
tion, for sanctifying the water to this spiritual use ; and the minister is 
to pray to this or the like effect : 

" That the Lord, who hath not left us as strangers without the covenant 
" of promise, but called us to the privileges of his ordinances, would gra- 
" ciously vouchsafe to sanctify and bless his own ordinance of baptism at 
" this time : That he would join the inward baptism of his Spirit with the 
" outward baptism of water ; make this baptism to the infant a seal of 
" adoption, remission of sin, regeneration, and eternal life, and all other 
" promises of the covenant of grace : That the child may be planted into 
" the likeness of the death and resurrection of Christ ; and that, the body 
" of sin being destroyed in him, he may serve God in newness of life all 
" his days." 

Then the minister is to demand the name of the child ; which being 
told him, he is to say, (calling the child by his name,) 

Ibaptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 

As he pronounceth these words, he is to baptize the child with water : 
which, for the manner of doing of it, is not only lawful but sufficient, and 
most expedient to be, by pouring or sprinkling of the water on the face 
of the child, without adding any other ceremony. 



3S4 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



This done, he is to give thanks and pray, to this or the like purpose : 
" Acknowledging with all thankfulness, that the Lord is true and faith- 
" ful in keeping covenant and mercy : That he is good and gracious, not 
" only in that he numbereth us among his saints, but is pleased also to 
" bestow upon our children this singular token and badge of his love 
" in Christ : That, in his truth and special providence, he daily bringeth 
" some into the bosom of his church, to be partakers of his inestimable 
" benefits, purchased by the blood of his dear Son, for the continuance 
" and increase of his church. 

" And praying, That the Lord would still continue, and daily confirm 
" more and more this his unspeakable favour : That he would receive the 
" infant now baptized, and solemnly entered into the household of faith, 
" into his fatherly tuition and defence, and remember him with the favour 
" that he sheweth to his people; that, if he shall be taken out of this life 
" in his infancy, the Lord, who is rich in mercy, would be pleased to re- 
" ceive him up into glory; and if he live, and attain the years of discre- 
" tion, that the Lord would so teach him by his word and Spirit, and 
" make his baptism effectual to him, and so uphold him by his divine 
" power and grace, that by faith he may prevail against the devil, the 
" world, and the flesh, till in the end he obtain a full and final victory, 
" and so be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, 
" through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE COMMUNION, OR SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S 

SUPPER. 

THE communion, or supper of the Lord, is frequently to be celebrated ; 
but how often, may be considered and determined by the ministers, 
and other church-governors of each congregation, as they shall find most 
convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to 
their charge. And, when it shall be administered, we judge it convenient 
to be done after the morning sermon. 

The ignorant and the scandalous are not fit to receive the sacrament of 
the Lord's Supper. 

Where this sacrament cannot with convenience be frequently adminis- 
tered, it is requisite that publick warning be given the sabbath-day before 
the administration thereof : and that either then, or on some day of that 
week, something concerning that ordinance, and the due preparation 
thereunto, and participation thereof, be taught; that, by the diligent use 
of all means sanctified of God to that end, both in publick and private, all 
may come better prepared to that heavenly feast. 

When the day is come for administration, the minister, having ended his 
sermon and prayer, shall make a short exhortation : 

" Expressing the inestimable benefit we have by this sacrament, together 
" with the ends and use thereof : setting forth the great necessity of hav- 
" ing our comforts and strength renewed thereby in this our pilgrimage 
" and warfare: how necessary it is that we come unto it with knowledge, 
" faith, repentance, love, and with hungering and thirsting souls after 
"Christ and his benefits: how great the danger to eat and drink un- 
" worthily. 

" Next, he is, in the name of Christ, on the one part, to warn all such 
" as are ignorant, scandalous, profane, or that live in any sin or offence 
" against their knowledge or conscience, that they presume not to come 
" to that holy table; shewing them, that he that eateth and drinketh un- 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 385 



" worthily, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself: and, on the other 
" part, he is in an especial manner to invite and encourage all that labour 
fj under the sense of the burden of their sins, and fear of wrath, and desire 
" to reach out unto a greater progress in grace than yet they can attain 
"unto, to come to the Lord's table; assuring them, in the same name, of 
" ease, refreshing, and strength to their weak and wearied souls." 

After this exhortation, warning, and invitation, the table being before 
decently covered, and so conveniently placed, that the communicants may 
orderly sit about it, or at it, the minister is to begin the action with sanc- 
tifying and blessing the elements of bread and wine set before him, (the 
bread in comely and convenient vessels, so prepared, that, being broken 
by him, and given, it may be distributed amongst the communicants; the 
wine also in large cups,) having first, in a few words, shewed that those 
elements, otherwise common, are now set apart and sanctified to this holy 
use, by the word of institution and prayer. 

Let the words of institution be read out of the Evangelists, or out of 
the first Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians, Chap. xi. 23. I 
have received of the Lord, &c. to the 27th Yerse, which the minister may, 
when he seeth requisite, explain and apply. 

Let the prayer, thanksgiving, or blessing of the bread and wine, be to 
this effect: 

" With humble and hearty acknowledgment of the greatness of our 
" misery, from which neither man nor angel was able to deliver us, and of 
" our great unworthiness of the least of all God's mercies; to give thanks 
" to God for all his benefits, and especially for that great benefit of our 
" redemption, the love of God the Father, the sufferings and merits of the 
"Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, by which we are delivered; and for 
" all means of grace, the word and sacraments ; and for this sacrament in 
" particular, by which Christ, and all his benefits, are applied and sealed 
" up unto us, which, notwithstanding the denial of them unto others, are 
" in great mercy continued unto us, after so much and long abuse of 
" them all. 

" To profess that there is no other name under heaven by which we can 
" be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ, by whom alone we receive liberty 
" and life, have access to the throne of grace, are admitted to eat and drink 
" at his own table, and are sealed up by his Spirit to an assurance of hap- 
4 1 piness and everlasting life. 

" Earnestly to pray to God, the Father of all mercies, and God of all 
" consolation, to vouchsafe his gracious presence, and the effectual work- 
ing of his Spirit in us; and so to sanctify these elements both of bread 
" and wine, and to bless his own ordinance, that we may receive by faith 
" the body and blood of Je3us Christ, crucified for us, and so to feed upon 
"him, that he may be one with us, and we one with him; that he may 
" live in us, and we in him, and to him who hath loved us, and given him- 
self for us." 

All which he is to endeavour to perform with suitable affections, answer- 
able to such an holy action, and to stir up the like in the people. 

The elements being now sanctified by the word and prayer, the minis- 
ter, being at the table, is to take the bread in his hand, and say, in these 
expressions, (or other the like, used by Christ or his apostle upon this 
occasion :) 

"According to the holy institution, command, and example of our 
" blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, I take this bread, and, having given thanks, 

2 B 



385 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



" break it, and give it unto you; (there the minister, who is also himself 
' " to communicate, is to break the bread, and give it to the communicants ;) 
" Take ye, eat ye; this is the body of Christ which is broken for you : do this 
" in remembrance of him." 

In like manner the minister is to take the cup, and say, in these expres- 
sions, (or other the like, used by Christ or the apostle upon the same occa- 
sion :) 

" According to the institution, command, and example of our Lord Jesus 
" Christ, I take this cup, and give it unto you; (here he giveth it to the 
" communicants ;) This cup is the new testament in the blood of Christ, which 
" is shed for the remission of the sins of many : drink ye all of it" 

After all have communicated, the minister may, in a few words, put them 
in mind, 

" Of the grace of God in Jesus Christ, held forth in this sacrament; and 
" exhort them to walk worthy of it." 

The minister is to give solemn thanks to God, 

" For his rich mercy, and invaluable goodness, vouchsafed to them in 
"that sacrament; and to entreat for pardon for the defects of the whole 
" service, and for the gracious assistance of his good Spirit, whereby they 
" may be enabled to walk in the strength of that grace, as becometh those 
** who have received so great pledges of salvation." 

The collection for the poor is so to be ordered, that no part of the 
publick worship be thereby hindered. 

Of the Sanctification of the Lord's Day. 

THE Lord's day ought to be so remembered before-hand, as that all 
worldly business of our ordinary callings may be so ordered, and so 
timely and seasonably laid aside, as they may not be impediments to the 
due sanctifying of the day when it comes. 

The whole day is to be celebrated as holy to the Lord, both in publick 
and private, as being the Christian sabbath. To which end,_it is requi- 
site, that there be a holy cessation or resting all that day from all unneces- 
sary labours ; and an abstaining, not only from all sports and pastimes, but 
also from all worldly words and thoughts. 

That the diet on that day be so ordered, as that neither servants be 
unnecessarily detained from the publick worship of God, nor any other 
person hindered from the sanctifying that day. 

That there be private preparations of every person and family, by prayer 
for themselves, and for God's assistance of the minister, and for a blessing 
upon his ministry; and by such other holy exercises, as may further dis- 
pose them to a more comfortable communion with God in his public ordi- 
nances, 

That all the people meet so timely for publick worship, that the whole 
congregation may be present at the beginning, and with one heart solemnly 
join together in all parts of the publick worship, and not depart till after 
the blessing. 

That what time is vacant, between or after the solemn meetings of the 
congregation in publick. be spent in reading, meditation, repetition of ser- 
mons; especially by calling their families to an account of what they have 
heard, and catechising of them, holy conferences, prayer for a blessing 
upon the publick ordinances, singing of psalms, visiting the sick, relieving 
the poor, and such like duties of* piety, charity, and mercy, accounting 
the sabbath a delight. 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 387 



The Solemnization of Marriage. 

k LTHOTJGH marriage be no sacrament, nor peculiar to the church of 
ri_ God, but common to mankind, and of publick interest in every com- 
monwealth; yet, because such as marry are to marry in the Lord, and 
have special need of instruction, direction, and exhortation, from the word 
of God, at their entering into such a new condition, and of the blessing 
of God upon them therein, we judge it expedient that marriage be 
solemnized by a lawful minister of the word, that he may accordingly 
counsel them, and pray for a blessing upon them. 

Marriage is to be betwixt one man and one woman only ; and they, 
such as are not within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity prohibited 
by the word of God ; and the parties are to be of years of discretion, fit 
to make their own choice, or, upon good grounds, to give their mutual 
consent. 

before the solemnizing of marriage between any persons, their purpose 
of marriage shall be published by the minister three several sabbath-days, 
in the congregation, at the place or places of their most usual and con- 
stant abode, respectively. And of this publication the minister who is to 
join them in marriage shall have sufficient testimony, before he proceed to 
solemnize the marriage. 

Before that publication of such their purpose, (if the parties be under 
age,) the consent of the parents, or others under whose power they are, 
(in case the parents be dead,) is to be made known to the church officers 
of that congregation, to be recorded. 

The like is to be observed in the proceedings of all others, although of 
age, whose parents are living, for their first marriage. 

And, in after marriages of either of those parties, they shall be exhorted 
not to contract marriage without first acquainting their parents with it, (if 
with conveniency it may be done,) endeavouring to obtain their consent. 

Parents ought not to force their children to marry without their free 
consent, nor deny their own consent without just cause. 

After the purpose or contract of marriage hath been thus published, 
the marriage is not to be long deferred. Therefore the minister, having 
had convenient warning, and nothing being objected to hinder it, is pub- 
lickly to solemnize it in the place appointed by authority for publick wor- 
ship, before a competent number of credible witnesses, at some convenient 
hour of the day, at any time of the year, except on a day of publick 
humiliation. And we advise that it be not on the Lord's day. 

And because all relations are sanctified by the word and prayer, the 
minister is to pray for a blessing upon them, to this effect : 

" Acknowledging our sins, whereby we have made ourselves less than 
" the least of all the mercies of God, and provoked him to embitter all 
" our comforts ; earnestly, in the name of Christ, to entreat the Lord 
" (whose presence and favour is the happiness of every condition, and 
" sweetens every relation) to be their portion, and to own and accept 
" them in Christ, who are now to be joined in the honourable estate 
" of marriage, the covenant of their God : and that, as he hath brought 
" them together by his providence, he would sanctify them by his Spirit, 
" giving them a new frame of heart fit for their new estate; enriching 
" them with all graces whereby they may perform the duties, enjoy the 
" comforts, undergo the cares, and resist the temptations which accom- 
" pany that condition, as becometh Christians." 



388 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOB. 



The prayer being ended, it is convenient that the minister do briefly de- 
clare unto them, out of the scripture, 

" The institution, use, and ends of marriage, with the conjugal duties, 
" which, in all faithfulness, they are to perform each to other ; exhorting 
" them to study the holy word of God, that they may learn to live by 
" faith, and to be content in the midst of all marriage cares and troubles, 
" sanctifying God's name, in a thankful, sober, and holy use of all con- 
" jugal comforts ; praying much with and for one another ; watching over 
" and provoking each other to love and good works; and to live together 
" as the heirs of the grace of life." 

After solemn charging of the persons to be married, before the great 
God, who searcheth all hearts, and to whom they must give a strict 
account at the last day, that if either of them know any cause, by precon- 
tract or otherwise, why they may not lawfully proceed to marriage, that 
they now discover it; the minister (if no impediment be acknowledged) 
shall cause first the man to take the woman by the right hand, saying 
these words: 

I N. do take thee N. to be my married wife, and do, in the presence of God, 
and before this congregation, promise and covenant to be a loving and faithful 
husband unto thee, until God shall separate us by death. 

Then the woman shall take the man by the right hand, and say these 
words : 

IN. do take thee N. to be my married husband, and I do, in the presence 
of God, and before this congregation, promise and covenant to be a loving, 
faithful, and obedient wife unto thee, until God shall separate us by death. 

Then, without any further ceremony, the minister shall, in the face of 
the congregation, pronounce them to be husband and wife, according to 
God's ordinance ; and so conclude the action with prayer to this effect : 

" That the Lord would be pleased to accompany his own ordinance 
" with his blessing, beseeching him to enrich the persons now married, as 
" with other pledges of his love, so particularly with the comforts and 
H fruits of marriage, to the praise of his abundant mercy, in and through 
" Christ Jesus." 

A register is to be carefully kept, wherein the names of the parties so 
married, with the time of their marriage, are forthwith to be fairly re- 
corded in a book provided for that purpose, for the perusal of all whom it 
may concern. 

Concerning Visitation of the Sick. 

IT is the duty of the minister not only to teach the people com- 
mitted to his charge in publick, but privately ; and particularly to 
admonish, exhort, reprove, and comfort them, upon all seasonable occa- 
sions, so far as his time, strength, and personal safety will permit. 

He is to admonish them, in time of health, to prepare for death ; and, 
for that purpose, they are often to confer with their minister about the 
estate of their souls ; and, in times of sickness, to desire his advice and 
help, timely and seasonably, before their strength and understanding fail 
them. 

Times of sickness^ and affliction are special opportunities put into his 
hand by God to minister a word in season to weary souls : because then 
the consciences of men are or should be more awakened to bethink them- 
selves of their spiritual estate for eternity ; and Satan also takes advan- 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 389 



tage then to load them more with sore and heavy temptations : therefore 
the minister, being sent for, and repairing to the sick, is to apply himself, 
with all tenderness and love, to administer some spiritual good to his soul, 
to this effect. 

He may, from the consideration of the present sickness, instruct him 
out of scripture, that diseases come not by chance, or by distempers of 
body only, but by the wise and orderly guidance of the good hand of 
God to every particular person smitten by them. And that, whether it 
be laid upon him out of displeasure for sin, for his correction and amend- 
ment, or for trial and exercise of his graces, or for other special and ex- 
cellent ends, all his sufferings shall turn to his profit, and work together 
for his good, if he sincerely labour to make a sanctified use of God's visi- 
tation, neither despising his chastening, nor waxing weary of his correc- 
tion. 

If he suspect him of ignorance, he shall examine him in the principles 
of religion, especially touching repentance and faith; and, as he seeth 
cause, instruct him in the nature, use, excellency, and necessity of those 
graces ; as also touching the covenant of grace; and Christ the Son of 
God, the Mediator of it ; and concerning remission of sins by faith in him. 

He shall exhort the sick person to examine himself, to search and try 
his former ways, and his estate towards God. 

And if the sick person shall declare any scruple, doubt, or temptation 
that are upon him, instructions and resolutions shall be given to satisfy 
and settle him. 

If it appear that he hath not a due sense of his sins, endeavours ought 
to be used to convince him of his sins, of the guilt and desert of them ; 
of the filth and pollution which the soul contracts by them ; and of the 
curse of the law, and wrath of God, due to them ; that he may be truly 
affected with and humbled for them : and withal make known the danger 
of deferring repentance, and of neglecting salvation at any time offered ; 
to awaken his conscience, and rouse him up out of a stupid and secure 
condition, to apprehend the justice and wrath of God, before whom none 
can stand, but he that, lost in himself, layeth hold upon Christ by faith. 

If he hath endeavoured to walk in the ways of holiness, and to serve 
God in uprightness, although not without many failings and infirmities ; 
or, if his spirit be broken with the sense of sin, or cast down through want 
of the sense of God's favour ; then it will be fit to raise him up, by setting 
before him the freeness and fulness of God's grace, the sufficiency of 
righteousness in Christ, the gracious offers in the gospel, that all who 
repent, and believe with all their heart in God's mercy through Christ, 
renouncing their own righteousness, shall have life and salvation in him. 
It may be also useful to shew him, that death hath in it no spiritual evil 
to be feared by those that are in Christ, because sin, the sting of death, 
is taken away by Christ, who hath delivered all that are his from the 
bondage of the fear of death, triumphed over the grave, given us victory, 
is himself entered into glory to prepare a place for his people : so that 
neither life nor death shall be able to separate them from God's love in 
Christ, in whom such are sure, though now they must be laid in the dust, 
to obtain a joyful and glorious resurrection to eternal life. 

Advice also may be given, as to beware of an ill-grounded persuasion 
on mercy, or on the goodness of his condition for heaven, so to disclaim 
all merit in himself, and to cast himself wholly upon God for mercy, in 
the sole merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, who hath engaged himself 



S90 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



never to cast off them who in truth and sincerity come unto him. Care 
also must be taken, that the sick person be not cast down into despair, by 
such a severe representation of the wrath of God due to him for his sins, 
as is not mollified by a sensible propounding of Christ and his merit for a 
door of hope to every penitent believer. 

When the sick person is best composed, may be least disturbed, and 
other necessary offices about him least hindered, the minister, if desired, 
shall pray with him, and for him, to this effect : 

" Confessing and bewailing of sin original and actual ; the miserable 
<e condition of all by nature, as being children of wrath, and under the 
" curse ; acknowledging that all diseases, sicknesses, death, and hell itself, 
" are the proper issues and effects thereof ; imploring God's mercy for the 
" sick person, through the blood of Christ ; beseeching that God would 
" open his eyes, discover unto him his sins, cause him to see himself lost 
" in himself, make known to him the cause why God smiteth him, reveal 
" J esus Christ to his soul for righteousness and life, give unto him his 
" Holy Spirit, to create and strengthen faith to lay hold upon Christ, to 
"work in him comfortable evidences of his love, to arm him against 
" temptations, to take off his heart from the world, to sanctify his present 
" visitation, to furnish him with patience and strength to bear it, and to 
" give him perseverance in faith to the end. 

" That, if Grod shall please to add to his days, he would vouchsafe to 
"bless and sanctify all means of his recovery; to remove the disease, 
" renew his strength, and enable him to walk worthy of God, by a faithful 
" remembrance, and diligent observing of such vows and promises of holi- 
" ness and obedience, as men are apt to make in times of sickness, that he 
" may glorify God in the remaining part of his life. 

" And, if God have determined to finish his days by the present visita- 
" tion, he may find such evidence of the pardon of all his sins, of his in- 
" terest in Christ, and eternal life by Christ, as may cause his inward man 
" to be renewed, while his outward man decayeth ; that he may behold 
" death without fear, cast himself wholly upon Christ without doubting, 
" desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, and so receive the end of 
" his faith, the salvation of his soul, through the only merits and inter- 
" cession of the Lord Jesus Christ, our alone Saviour and all-sufficient 
" Redeemer." 

The minister shall admonish him also (as there shall be cause) to set 
his house in order, thereby to prevent inconveniences ; to take care for 
payment of his debts, and to make restitution or satisfaction where he 
hath done any wrong ; to be reconciled to those with whom he hath been 
at variance, and fully to forgive all men their trespasses against him, as he 
expects forgiveness at the hand of God. 

Lastly, The minister may improve the present occasion to exhort those 
about the sick person to consider their own mortality, to return to the 
Lord, and make peace with him ; in health to prepare for sickness, death, 
and judgment ; and all the days of their appointed time so to wait until 
their change come, that when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they 
may appear with him in glory. 

Concerning Burial of the Dead. 

WHEN any person departeth this life, let the dead body, upon the day 
of burial, be decently attended from the house to the place appointed 
for publick burial, and there immediately interred, without any ceremony. 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 391 



And because the custom of kneeling down, and praying by or towards 
the dead corpse, and other such usages, in the place where it lies before 
it be carried to burial, are superstitious ; and for that praying, reading, 
and singing, both in going to and at the grave, have been grossly abused, 
are no way beneficial to the dead, and have proved many ways hurtful to 
the living ; therefore let all such things be laid aside. 

Howbeit, we judge it very convenient, that the Christian friends, which 
accompany the dead body to the place appointed for publick burial, do 
apply themselves to meditations and conferences suitable to the occasion ; 
and that the minister, as upon other occasions, so at this time, if he be 
present, may put them in remembrance of their duty. 

That this shall not extend to deny any civil respects or deferences at 
the burial, suitable to the rank and condition of the party deceased, while 
he was living. 

Concerning Publick Solemn Fasting. 

WHEN some great and notable judgments are either inflicted upon a 
people, or apparently imminent, or by some extraordinary provo- 
cations notoriously deserved ; as also when some special blessing is to be 
sought and obtained, publick solemn fasting (which is to continue the 
whole day) is a duty that God expecteth from that nation or people. 

A religious fast requires total abstinence, not only from all food, (unless 
bodily weakness do manifestly disable from holding out till the fast be 
ended, in which case somewhat may be taken, yet very sparingly, to sup- 
port nature, when ready to faint,) but also from all worldly labour, dis- 
courses, and thoughts, and from all bodily delights, and such like, (al- 
though at other times lawful,) rich apparel, ornaments, and such like, 
during the fast ; and much more from whatever is in the nature or use 
scandalous and offensive, as gaudish attire, lascivious habits and gestures, 
and other vanities of either sex ; which we recommend to all ministers, 
in their places, diligently and zealously to reprove, as at other times, 
so especially at a fast, without respect of persons, as there shall be 
occasion. 

Before the publick meeting, each family and person apart are privately 
to use all religious care to prepare their hearts to such a solemn work, 
and to be early at the congregation. 

So large a portion of the day as conveniently may be, is to be spent in 
publick reading and preaching of the word, with singing of psalms, fit to 
quicken affections suitable to such a duty: but especially in prayer, to this 
or the like effect : 

" Giving glory to the great Majesty of God, the Creator, Preserver, and 
" supreme Ruler of all the world, the better to affect us thereby with an 
" holy reverence and awe of him ; acknowledging his manifold, great, and 
" tender mercies, especially to the church and nation, the more effectually 
" to soften and abase our hearts before him ; humbly confessing of sins of 
"all sorts, with their several aggravations; justifying God's righteous 
"judgments, as being far less than our sins do deserve; yet humbly and 
" earnestly imploring his mercy and grace for ourselves, the church and 
" nation, for our king, and all in authority, and for all others for whom 
" we are bound to pray, (according as the present exigent requireth,) with 
" more special importunity and enlargement than at other times ; applying 
" by faith the promises and goodness of God for pardon, help, and deliver- 
"ance from the evils felt, feared, or deserved; and for obtaining the 



392 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 



" blessings which we need and expect ; together with a giving up of our- 
" selves wholly and for ever unto the Lord/' 

In all these, the ministers, who are the mouths of the people unto God, 
ought so to speak from their hearts, upon serious and thorough premedita- 
tion of them, that both themselves and their people may be much affected, 
and even melted thereby, especially with sorrow for their sins; that it may 
be indeed a day of deep humiliation and afflicting of the soul. 

Special choice is to be made of such scriptures to be read, and of such 
texts for preaching, as may best work the hearts of the hearers to the 
special business of the day, and most dispose them to humiliation and 
repentance: insisting most on those particulars which each minister's 
observation and experience tells him are most conducing to the edification 
and reformation of that congregation to which he preacheth. 

Before the close of the publick duties, the minister is, in his own and 
the people's name, to engage his and their hearts to be the Lord's, with 
professed purpose and resolution to reform whatever is amiss among them, 
and more particularly such sins as they have been more remarkably guilty 
of; and to draw near unto God, and to walk more closely and faithfully 
with him in new obedience, than ever before. 

He is also to admonish the people, with all importunity, that the work 
of that day doth not end with the publick duties of it, but that they are so 
to improve the remainder of the day, and of their whole life, in reinforcing 
upon themselves and their families in private all those godly affections and 
resolutions which they professed in publick, as that they may be settled in 
their hearts for ever, and themselves may more sensibly find that God hath 
smelt a sweet savour in Christ from their performances, and is pacified 
towards them, by answers of grace, in pardoning of sin, in removing of 
judgments, in averting or preventing of plagues, and in conferring of 
blessings, suitable to the conditions and prayers of his people, by Jesus 
Christ. 

Besides solemn and general fasts enjoined by authority, we judge that, 
at other times, congregations may keep days of fasting, as divine provi- 
dence shall administer unto them special occasion; and also that families 
may do the same, so it be not on days wherein the congregation to which 
they do belong is to meet for fasting, or other publick duties of worship. 

Concerning the Observation of Days of Pvblich Thanksgiving. 

WHEN any such day is to be kept, let notice be given of it, and of the 
occasion thereof, some convenient time before, that the people may 
the better prepare themselves thereunto. 

The day being come, and the congregation (after private preparations) 
being assembled, the minister is to begin with a word of exhortation, to 
stir up the people to the duty for which they are met, and with a short 
prayer for God's assistance and blessing, (as at other conventions for pub- 
lick worship,) according to the particular occasion of their meeting. 

Let him then make some pithy narration of the deliverance obtained, or 
mercy received, or of whatever hath occasioned that assembling of the 
congregation, that all may better understand it, or be minded of it, and 
more affected with it. 

And, because singing of psalms is of all other the most proper ordinance 
for expressing of joy and thanksgiving, let some pertinent psalm or psalms 
be sung for that purpose, before or after the reading of some portion of 
the word suitable to the present business. 



THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 393 



Then let the minister, who is to preach, proceed to further exhortation 
and prayer before his sermon, with special reference to the present work : 
after which, let him preach upon some text of Scripture pertinent to the 
occasion. 

The sermon ended, let him not only pray, as at other times after preach- 
ing is directed, with remembrance of the necessities of the Church, King, 
and State, (if before the sermon they were omitted,) but enlarge himself 
in due and solemn thanksgiving for former mercies and deliverances; but 
more especially for that which at the present calls them together to give 
thanks : with humble petition for the continuance and renewing of God's 
wonted mercies, as need shall be, and for sanctifying grace to make aright 
use thereof. And so, having sung another psalm, suitable to the mercy, 
let him dismiss the congregation with a blessing, that they may have some 
convenient time for their repast and refreshing. 

But the minister (before their dismission) is solemnly to admonish them 
to beware of all excess and riot, tending to gluttony or drunkenness, and 
much more of these sins themselves, in their eating and refreshing; and to 
take care that their mirth and rejoicing be not carnal, but spiritual, which 
may make God's praise to be glorious, and themselves humble and sober ; 
and that both their feeding and rejoicing may render them more cheerful 
and enlarged, further to celebrate his praises in the midst of the congre- 
gation, when they return unto it in the remaining part of that day. 

When the congregation shall be again assembled, the like course in pray- 
ing, reading, preaching, singing of psalms, and offering up of more praise 
and thanksgiving, that is before directed for the morning, is to be renewed 
and continued, so far as the time will give leave. 

At one or both of the publick meetings that day, a collection is to be 
made for the poor, (and in the like manner upon the day of publick humi- 
liation,) that their loins may bless us, and rejoice the more with us. And 
the people are to be exhorted, at the end of the latter meeting, to spend 
the residue of that day in holy duties, and testifications of Christian love 
and charity one towards another, and of rejoicing more and more in the 
Lord; as becometh those who make the joy of the Lord their strength. 

Of Singing of Psalms. 

IT is the duty of Christians to praise God publickly, by singing of psalms 
together in the congregation, and also privately in the family. 
In singing of psalms, the voice is to be tunably and gravely ordered ; 
but the chief care must be to sing with understanding, and with grace in 
the heart, making melody unto the Lord. 

That the whole congregation may join herein, every one that can read 
is to have a psalm book; and all others, not disabled by age or otherwise, 
are to be exhorted to learn to read. But for the present, where many in 
the congregation cannot read, it is convenient that the minister, or some 
other fit person appointed by him and the other ruling officers, do read the 
psalm, line by line, before the singing thereof. 



394 THE DIRECTORY FOR THE PUBLICK WORSHIP OF GOD. 

AN APPENDIX, 
Touching Days and Places for Publich Worship, 

THERE is no day commanded in scripture to be kept holy under the 
gospel but the Lord's day, which is the Christian Sabbath. 
Festival days, vulgarly called Holy-days, having no warrant in the word 
of God, are not to be continued. 

Nevertheless, it is lawful and necessary, upon special emergent occa- 
sions, to separate a day or days for publick fasting or thanksgiving, as the 
several eminent and extraordinary dispensations of God's providence shall 
administer cause and opportunity to his people. 

As no place is capable of any holiness, under pretence of whatsoever 
dedication or consecration; so neither is it subject to such pollution by 
any superstition formerly used, and now laid aside, as may render it un- 
lawful or inconvenient for Christians to meet together therein for the 
publick worship of God. And therefore we hold it requisite, that the 
places of publick assembling for worship among us should be continued 
and employed to that use. 



THE FORM 

OF 

PRESBYTERIAL CHURCII-G VERNMENT 

AND OF 

ORDINATION OE MINISTERS 5 

AGREED UPON BY THE ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES AT WESTMINSTER, WITH THE 
ASSISTANCE OF COMMISSIONERS FROM THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, 
AS A PART OF THE COVENANTED UNIFORMITY IN RELIGION 
BETWIXT THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE KINGDOMS 
OF SCOTLAND, ENGLAND, AND IRELAND : 

WITH 

AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ANNO 1645, APPROVING THE SAME. 



Ezek. xliii. 11. — And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the 
form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and 
the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, — and all the laws thereof : and 
write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the 
ordinances thereof, and do them. 



THE CONTENTS. 



The Preface. 
Of the Church. 

Of the Officers of the Church. 
Pastors. 

Other Church-governors. 
Deacons. 

Of particular Congregations. 
Of the Officers of a particular Congregation. 
Of the Ordinances in a particular Congre- 
gation. 

Of Church -government, and the several 
sorts of Assemblies for the same. 

Of the power in common of all these As- 
semblies. 



Of Congregational Assemblies, that is, the 
Meeting of the ruling Officers of a par- 
ticular Congregation, for the govern- 
ment thereof. 

Of Classical Assemblies. 

Of Synodical Assemblies. 

Of Ordination of Ministers. 

Touching the Doctrine of Ordination. 

Touching the Power of Ordination. 

Concerning the Doctrinal Part of the Or- 
dination of Ministers. 

The Directory for the Ordination of 
Ministers. 



Assembly at Edinburgh, February 10, 1645. Sess. 16. 

Act of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, approving the Propositions 
concerning Kirk-government, and Ordination of Ministers. 

THE General Assembly being most desirous and solicitous, not only of the establish- 
ment and preservation of the Form of Kirk-government in this kingdom, accord- 
ing to the word of God, books of Discipline, acts of General Assemblies, and National 
Covenant, but also of an uniformity in Kirk-government betwixt these kingdoms, now 
more straitly and strongly united by the late Solemn League and Covenant ; and con- 
sidering, that as in former times there did, so hereafter there may arise, through the 
, nearness of contagion, manifold mischiefs to this kirk from a corrupt form of govern- 
ment in the kirk of England: likeas the precious opportunity of bringing the kirks 
of Christ in all the three kingdoms to an uniformity in Kirk-government being the 
happiness of the present times above the former; which may also, by the blessing of 
God, prove an effectual mean, and a good foundation to prepare for a safe and well- 
grounded pacification, by removing the cause from which the present pressures and 
bloody wars did originally proceed: and now the Assembly having thrice read, and 
diligently examined, the propositions (hereunto annexed) concerning the officers, 
assemblies, and government of the kirk, and concerning the ordination of ministers, 
brought unto us, as the results of the long and learned debates of the Assembly of 
Divines sitting at Westminster, and of the treaty of uniformity with the Commissioners 
of this kirk there residing ; after mature deliberation, and after timeous calling upon, 
and warning of all, who have any exceptions against the same, to make them known, 
that they might receive satisfaction; doth agree to and approve the propositions 
afore-mentioned, touching Kirk-government and Ordination; and doth hereby 
authorize the Commissioners of this Assembly, who are to meet at Edinburgh, to 
agree to and conclude in the name of this Assembly, an uniformity betwixt the kirks 
in both kingdoms, in the afore-mentioned particulars, so soon as the same shall be 
ratified, without any substantial alteration, by an ordinance of the honourable Houses 
of the Parliament of England; which ratification shall be timely intimate and made 
known by the Commissioners of this kirk residing at London. Provided always, 
That this act be no ways prejudicial to the further discussion and examination of that 
article which holds forth, That the doctor or teacher hath power of the administration 
of the sacraments, as well as the pastor; as also of the distinct rights and interests 
of presbyteries and people in the calling of ministers; but that it shall be free to de- 
bate and discuss these points, as God shall be pleased to give further light. 



THE FOKM 

OF 

PRESBYTERIAL CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



THE PREFACE. 

JESUS CHRIST, upon whose shoulders the government is, whose 
name is called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The ever- 
lasting Father, The Prince of Peace ; a of the increase of whose govern- 
ment and peace there shall be no end; who sits upon the throne of David, 
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and 
justice, from henceforth, even for ever; having all power given unto him 
in heaven and in earth by the Father, who raised him from the dead, and 
set him at his own right hand, far above all principalities and power, and 
might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this 
world, but also in that which is to come, and put all things under his feet, 
and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his 
body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all: he being ascended up far 
above all heavens, that he might fill all things, received gifts for his church, 
and gave officers necessary for the edification of his church, and perfecting 
of his saints. b 

a Isa. ix. 6, 7. 

* Matt, xxviii. 18, 19, 20. Eph. i. 20, 21, 22, 23. Compared with Eph. iv. 8, 11, 
and Ps. lxviii. 18. 

Of the Church. 

THERE is one general church visible, held forth in the New Testa- 
ment. a 

The ministry, oracles, and ordinances of the New Testament, are given 
by Jesus Christ to the general church visible, for the gathering and per- 
fecting of it in this life, until his second coming. b 

a 1 Cor. xii. 12. For as the body is one, governments, diversities of tongues. [To- 

and hath many members, and all the gether with the rest of the Chapter.] 

members of that one body, being many, b i Cor. xii. 28. [See before.] Eph. iv. 

are one body ; so also is Christ. Ver. 4. There is one body, and one Spirit, even 

13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized as ye are called in one hope of your call- 

into one body, whether we be Jews or ing; Ver. 5. One Lord, one faith, one 

Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; baptism. Compared with Ver. 10. He that 

and have been all made to drink into one descended is the same also that ascended 

Spirit. Ver. 28. And God hath set some up far above all heavens, that he might 

in the church, first, apostles; secondarily, fill all things. Ver. 11. And he gave 

prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that some, apostles ; and some, prophets; and 

miracles; then gifts of healings, helps, some, evangelists; and some, pastors and 



398 



THE FORM OF CHURCH- GOVERNMENT. 



Particular visible churches, members of the general church, are also 
held forth in the New Testament. Particular churches in the primitive 
times were made up of visible saints, viz. of such as, being of age, pro- 
fessed faith in Christ, and obedience unto Christ, according to the 
rules of faith and life taught by Christ and his apostles; and of their 
children.^ 

Of the Officers of the Church, 

THE officers which Christ hath appointed for the edification of his 
church, and the perfecting of the saints, are, some extraordinary, as 
apostles, evangelists, and prophets, which are ceased. 

Others ordinary and perpetual, as pastors, teachers, and other church- 
governors, and deacons. 



teachers; Ver. 12. For the perfecting of 
the saints, for the work of the ministry, 
for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Ver. 13. Till we all come in the unity of 
the faith, and of the knowledge of the 
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the 
measure of the stature of the fulness of 
Christ. Ver. 15. But, speaking the truth 
in love, may grow up into him in all 
things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Ver. 1 6. From whom the whole body fitly 
joined together and compacted by that 
which every joint supplieth, according to 
the effectual working in the measure of 
every part, maketh increase of the body, 
unto the edifying of itself in love. 

c Gal. i. 21. Afterwards I came into 
the regions of Syria and Cilicia; Ver. 22. 
And was unknown by face unto the 
churches of Judea which were in Christ. 
Rev. i. 4. John to the seven churches 
tvhich are in Asia: Grace be unto you, 
and peace, from him which is, and which 
was, and which is to come ; and from the 
seven Spirits which are before his throne. 
Ver. 20. The mystery of the seven stars 
which thou sawest in my right hand, and 
the seven golden candlesticks. The seven 
stars are the angels of the seven churches; 
and the seven candlesticks which thou 
sawest are the seven churches. Rev. ii. 
1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephe- 
sus write ; These things saith he that 
holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, 
who walketh in the midst of the seven 
golden candlesticks. 

a Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto 
them, Repent, and be baptized every one 
of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the 
remission of sins, and ye shall receive the 
gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 41. Then 
they that gladly received his word were 
baptized: and the same day there were 
added unto them about three thousand 
souls. Ver. 47. Praising God, and hav- 



ing favour with all the people. And the 
Lord added to the church daily such as 
should be saved. Compared with Acts v. 
14. And believers were the more added to 
the Lord, multitudes both of men and 
women. 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of 
God which is at Corinth, to them that are 
sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be 
saints, with all that in every place call 
upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, 
both theirs and ours. Compared with 2 
Cor. ix. 13. Whiles by the experiment of 
this ministration, they glorify God for 
your professed subjection unto the gospel of 
Christ, and for your liberal distribution 
unto them, and unto all men. Acts ii. 
39. For the promise is unto you, and to 
your children, and to all that are afar off, 
even as many as the Lord our God shall 
call. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving 
husband is sanctified by the wife, and the 
unbelieving wife is sanctified by the hus- 
band: else were your children unclean; 
but now are they holy. Eom. xi. 16. For 
if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also 
holy ; and if the root be holy, so are the 
branches. Mark x. 14. But when Jesus 
saw it, he was much displeased, and said 
unto them, Suffer the little children to 
come unto me, and forbid them not : for of 
such is the kingdom of God. Compared 
with Matt. xix. 13. Then were there 
brought unto him little children, that he 
should put his hands on them, and pray: 
and the disciples rebuked them. Ver. 14. 
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and 
forbid them not, to come unto me; for of 
such is the kingdom of heaven. Luke 
xviii. 15. And they brought unto him 
also infants, that he would touch them: 
but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked 
them. Ver. 16. But Jesus called them 
unto him, and said, Suffer little children 
to come unto me, and forbid them not : for 
of such is the kingdom of God. 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 399 



Pastors. 

THE pastor is an ordinary and perpetual officer in the church, e prophe- 
sying of the time of the gospel. f 
First, it belongs to his office, 

To pray for and with his flock, as the mouth of the people unto God,s 
Act3 vi. 2, 3, 4, and xx. 36, where preaching and prayer are joined as 
several parts of the same office. h The office of the elder (that is, the 
pastor) is to pray for the sick, even in private, to which a blessing is 
especially promised; much more therefore ought he to perform this in the 
publick execution of his office, as a part thereof. 1 

To read the Scriptures publickly ; for the proof of which, 
1. That the priests and Levites in the Jewish church were trusted with 
the publick reading of the word is proved. k 



e Jer. iii. 15. And I will give you pas- 
tors according to mine heart, which shall 
feed you with knowledge and understand, 
ing. Ver. 16. And it shall come to pass, 
when ye be multiplied and increased in 
the land, in those days, saith the Lord, 
they shall say no more, The ark of the 
covenant of the Lord; neither shall it 
come to mind, neither shall they remem- 
ber it, neither shall they visit it, neither 
shall that be done any more. Ver. 17. 
At that time they shall call Jerusalem the 
throne of the Lord; and all the nations 
shall be gathered unto it, to the name of 
the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they 
walk any more after the imagination of 
their evil heart. 

n Pet. v. 2. Feed the flock of God 
which is among you, taking the oversight 
thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; 
not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind ; 
Ver. 3. Neither as being lords over 
God's heritage, but being ensamples to 
the flock : Ver. 4. And when the chief 
Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a 
crown of glory that fadeth not away. 
Eph. iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles; 
and some, prophets; and some, evange- 
lists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Ver. 12. For the perfecting of the saints, 
for the work of the ministry, for the edi- 
fying of the body of Christ: Ver. 13. 
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, 
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, 
unto a perfect man, unto the measure of 
the stature of the fulness of Christ. 

s Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called the 
multitude of the disciples unto them, and 
said, It is not reason that we should leave 
the word of God, and serve tables. Ver. 
3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among 
you seven men of honest report, full of 
the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we 
may appoint over this business. Ver. 4. 
But we will give ourselves continually to 



prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 
Acts xx. 36. And when he had thus spo- 
ken, he kneeled down, and prayed with 
them all. 

b James v. 14. Is any sick among you ? 
let him call for the elders of the church ; 
and let them pray over him, anointing 
him with oil in the name of the Lord : 
Ver. 15. And the prayer of faith shall 
save the sick, and the Lord shall raise 
him up; and if he have committed sins, 
they shall be forgiven him. 

i 1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it then ? I 
will pray with the spirit, and I will pray 
with the understanding also; I will sing 
with the spirit, and I will sing with the 
understanding also. Ver. 16. Else, when 
thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall 
he that occupieth the room of the un- 
learned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, 
seeing he understandeth not what thou 
sayest ? 

k Deut. xxxi. 9. And Moses wrote this 
law, and delivered it unto the priests the 
sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the 
covenant of the Lord, and unto all the 
elders of Israel. Ver. 10. And Moses 
commanded them, saying, At the end of 
every seven years, in the solemnity of the 
year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 
Ver. 11. When all Israel is come to ap- 
pear before the Lord thy God in the place 
which he shall choose, thou shalt read 
this law before all Israel in their hearing. 
Neh. viii. 1. And all the people gathered 
themselves together as one man into the 
street that was before the water-gate; 
and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to 
bring the book of the law of Moses, which 
the Lord had commanded to Israel. Ver. 
2. And Ezra the priest brought the law 
before the congregation, both of men and 
women, and all that could hear with un- 
derstanding, upon the first day of the 
seventh month. Ver. 3. And he read 



400 THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



2. That the ministers of the gospel have as ample a charge and com-, 
mission to dispense the word, as well as other ordinances, as the priests 
and Levites had under the law, proved, Isa. lxvi. 21. Matt, xxiii. 34, 
where our Saviour entitleth the officers of the New Testament, whom he 
will send forth, by the same names of the teachers of the Old. 1 

"Which propositions prove, that therefore (the duty being of a moral 
nature) it followeth by just consequence, that the publick reading of the 
scriptures belongeth to the pastor's office. 

To feed the flock, by preaching of the word, according to which he is 
to teach, convince, reprove, exhort, and comfort. m 

To catechise, which is a plain laying down the first principles of the 
oracles of God, n or of the doctrine of Christ, and is a part of preaching. 

To dispense other divine mysteries. 

To administer the sacraments.P 

To bless the people from God, Numb. vi. 23, 24, 25, 26. Compared 
with Rev. xiv. 5, (where the same blessings, and persons from whom they 
come, are expressly mentioned, *) Isa. lxvi. 21, where, under the names of 



therein — Ver. 1 3. And on the second day 
were gathered together the chief of the 
fathers of all the people, the priests, and 
the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to 
understand the words of the law. 

ilsa. lxvi. 21. And I will also take of 
them for priests, and for Levites, saith 
the Lord. Matt, xxiii. 34. Wherefore, 
behold, I send unto you prophets, and 
wise men, and scribes ; and some of them 
ye shall kill and crucify; and some of 
them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, 
and persecute them from city to city. 

m 1 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must be 
blameless, the husband of one wife, vigi- 
lant, sober, of good behaviour, given to 
hospitality, apt to teach. 2 Tim. iii. 16. 
All scripture is given by inspiration of 
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for re- 
proof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness ; Ver. 17. That the man of 
God may be perfect, throughly furnished 
unto all good works. Tit. i. 9. Holding 
fast the faithful word as he hath been 
taught, that he may be able by sound 
doctrine both to exhort and to convince the 
gainsayers. 

n Heb. v. 12. For when for the time ye 
ought to be teachers, ye have need that 
one teach you again which be the first 
principles of the oracles of God ; and are 
become such as have need of milk, and 
not of strong meat. 

°1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man so account of 
us as of the ministers of Christ, and 
stewards of the mysteries of God. Ver. 2. 
Moreover, it is required in stewards, that 
a man be found faithful. 

p Matt, xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore, and 
teach all nations, baptizing them in the 
name of the Father, and of the Son, and 



of the Holy Ghost ; Ver. 20. Teaching 
them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you : and, lo, I am with 
you alway, even unto the end of the 
world. Amen. Mark xvi. 15. And he 
said unto them, Go ye into all the world, 
and preach the gospel to every creature. 
Ver. 16. He that believeth, and is bap- 
tized, shall be saved; but he that believ- 
eth not shall be damned. 1 Cor. xi. 23. 
For I have received of the Lord that which 
also I delivered unto you. That the Lord 
Jesus, the same night in which he was be- 
trayed, took bread. Ver. 24. And, when 
he had given thanks, he brake it, and 
said, Take, eat ; this is my body, which is 
broken for you : this do in remembrance 
of me. Ver. 25. After the same manner 
also he took the cup, when he had supped, 
saying, This cup is the new testament in 
my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink 
it, in remembrance of me. Compared with 
1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which 
we bless, is it not the communion of the 
blood of Christ? the bread which we 
break, is it not the communion of the body 
of Christ ? 

<iNumb. vi. 23. Speak unto Aaron, and 
unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye 
shall bless the children of Israel, saying 
unto them, Ver. 24. The Lord bless thee, 
and keep thee ; Ver. 25. The Lord make 
his face shine upon thee, — Ver. 26. The 
Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, 
and give thee peace. Compared with Eev. 
i. 4. John to the seven churches which 
are in Asia : Grace be unto you, and 
peace, from him which is, and which was, 
and which is to come; and from the 
seven Spirits which are before his throne ; 
Ver. 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



401 



Priests and Levites to be continued under the gospel, are meant evan- 
gelical pastors, who therefore are by office to bless the people/ 
To take care of the poor. s 

And he hath also a ruling power over the flock as a pastor.* 
Teacher or Doctor. 

THE scripture doth hold out the name and title of teacher, as well as 
of the pastor. v 

Who is also a minister of the word, as well as the pastor, and hath 
power of administration of the sacraments. 

The Lord having given different gifts, and divers exercises according 
to these gifts, in the ministry of the word; w though these different gifts 
the faithful Witness, and the first-be- there be no gatherings when I come. Ver. 



gotten of the dead, and the Prince of the 
kings of the earth. Isa. lxvi. 21. And I 
will also take of them for priests, and for 
Levites, saith the Lord. 

r Deut. x. 8. At that time the Lord 
separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the 
ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand 
before the Lord to minister unto him, and 
to bless in his name, unto this day. 2 Cor. 
xiii, 14. The grace of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and the love of God, and the com- 
munion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. 
Amen. Eph. i. 2. Grace be to you, and 
peace, from God our Father, and from 
the Lord Jesus Christ. 

s Acts xi. 30. Which also they did, and 
sent it to the elders by the hands of Bar- 
nabas and Saul. Acts iv. 34. Neither 
was there any among them that lacked : 
for as many as were possessors of lands 
or houses sold them, and brought the 
prices of the things that were sold, Ver. 

35. And laid them down at the apostles' 
feet : and distribution was made unto 
every man according as he had need. Ver. 

36. And Joses, who by the apostles was 
surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being in- 
terpreted, The son of consolation,) a 
Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 
Ver. 37. Having land, sold it, and brought 
the money, and laid it at the apostles' 
feet. Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called 
the multitude of the disciples unto them, 
and said, It is not reason that we should 
leave the word of God, and serve tables. 
Ver. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out 
among you seven men of honest report, 
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom 
we may appoint over this business. Ver. 
4. But we will give ourselves continually 
to prayer, and to the ministry of the 
word. 1 Cor. xvi. 1. Now concerning the 
collection for the saints, as I have given 
order to the churclies of Galatia, even so 
do ye. Ver. 2. Upon the first day of the 
week let every one of you lay by him in 
store, as God hath prospered him, that 



And when I come, whomsoever ye shall 
approve by your letters, them will I send 
to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 
Ver. 4. And if it be meet that I go also, 
they shall go with me. Gal. ii. 9. And 
when James, Cephas, and John, who 
seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace 
that was given unto me, they gave to me 
and Barnabas the right hands of fellow- 
ship ; that we should go unto the heathen, 
and they unto the circumcision. Ver. 10. 
Only they would that we should remember 
the poor ; the same which I also was for- 
ward to do. 

* 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that rule 
well be counted worthy of double honour, 
especially they who labour in the word 
and doctrine. Acts xx. 17. And from 
Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the 
elders of the church. Ver. 28. Take heed 
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the 
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath 
made you overseers, to feed the church of 
God, which he hath purchased with his 
own blood. 1 Thess. v. 12. And we be- 
seech you, brethren, to know them which 
labour among you, and are over you in 
the Lord, and admonish you. Heb. xiii. 
7. Remember them which have the rule 
over you, who have spoken unto you the 
word of God; whose faith follow, con- 
sidering the end of their conversation. 
Ver. 17. Obey them that have the ride 
over you, and submit yourselves : for they 
watch for your souls, as they that must 
gi\e account ; that they may do it with 
joy, and not with grief : for that is un- 
profitable for you. 

v 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set some 
in the church, first, apostles ; secondarily, 
prophets; thirdly, teachers; after that 
miracles ; then gifts of healings, helps, 
governments, diversities of tongues. Eph. 
iv. 11. And he gave some, apostles; and 
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; 
and some, pastors and teachers. 

w Rom. xii. 6. Having then gifts, differing 

2 c 



402 



THE FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT. 



may meet in, and accordingly be exercised by, one and the same mini- 
ster ; x yet, where be several ministers in the same congregation, they may 
be designed to several employments, according to the different gifts in 
which each of them doth most excel.? And he that doth more excel in 
exposition of scripture, in teaching sound doctrine, and in convincing 
gainsayers, than he doth in application, and is accordingly employed 
therein, may be called a teacher, or doctor, (the places alleged by the 
notation of the word do prove the proposition.) Nevertheless, where is 
but one minister in a particular congregation, he is to perform, as far as 
he is able, the whole work of the ministry. 2 

A teacher, or doctor, is of most excellent use in schools and universi- 
ties; as of old in the schools of the prophets, and at Jerusalem, where 
Gamaliel and others taught as doctors. 

Other Char c7i- Governors. 

AS there were in the Jewish church elders of the people joined with 
the priests and Levites in the government of the church ; a so Christ, 
who hath instituted government, and governors ecclesiastical in the church, 
hath furnished some in his church, beside the ministers of the word, with 
gifts for government, and with commission to execute the same when 
called thereunto, who are to join with the minister in the government 
of the church. b Which officers reformed churches commonly call Elders. 

according to the grace that is given to us, ability which God giveth ; that God in all 



whether prophecy, let us prophesy accord- 
ing to the proportion of faith ; Ver. 7. 
Or ministry, let us wait on our minister- 
ing ; or he that teacheth, on teaching ; 
Ver. 8. Or he that exhorteth, on exhorta- 
tion : he that giveth, let him do it with 
simplicity ; he that ruleth, with diligence ; 
he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 
1 Cor. xii. 1. Now concerning spiritual 
gifts, brethren, I would not have you ig- 
norant. Ver. 4. Now there are diversi- 
ties of gifts, but the same Spirit. Ver. 5. 
And there are differences of administra- 
tions, but the same Lord. Ver. 6. And 
there are diversities of operations, but it 
is the same God which worketh all in all. 
Ver. 7. But the manifestation of the Spirit 
is given to every man to profit withal. 

x 1 Cor. xiv. 3. But he that prophesieth 
speaketh unto men, to edification, and 
exhortation, and comfort. 2 Tim. iv. 2. 
Preach the word ; be instant in season, 
out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with 
all long-suffering and doctrine. Tit. i. 
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he 
hath been taught, that he may be able by 
sound doctrine both to exhort and to con- 
vince the gainsayers. 

y [See in letter w immediately preced- 
ing.] 1 Pet. iv. 10. As every man hath re- 
ceived the gift, even so minister the same one 
to another, as good stewards of the mani- 
fold grace of God. Ver. 11. If any man 
speak, let him speak as the oracles of God ; 
if any man minister, let him do it as of the 



things may be glorified through Jesus 
Christ : to whom be praise and dominion 
for ever and ever. Amen. 

z 2 Tim. iv. 2. Preach the word ; be 
instant in season, out of season ; reprove, 
rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and 
doctrine. Tit, i. 9. Holding fast the faith- 
ful word as he hath been taught, that 
he may be able by sound doctrine both 
to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 
1 Tim. vi. 2. And they that have believ- 
ing masters, let them not despise them, 
because they are brethren ; but rather do 
them service, because they are faithful and 
beloved, partakers of the benefit. These 
things teach and exhort. 

a 2 Chron. xix. 8. Moreover, in Jeru- 
salem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, 
and of the priests, and of the chief of the 
fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the 
Lord, and for controversies, when they 
returned to Jerusalem. Ver. 9. And he 
charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in 
the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with 
a perfect heart. Ver. 10. And what cause 
soever shall come to you of your brethren 
that dwell in their cities, between blood 
and blood, between law and command- 
ment, statutes and judgments, ye shall 
even warn them that they trespass not 
against the Lord, and so wrath come upon 
you, and upon your brethren: this do, 
and ye shall not trespass. 

b Rom. xii. 7. Or ministry, let us wait 
on our ministering; or he that teacheth, 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



403 



Deacons. 

THE scripture doth hold out deacons as distinct officers in the 
church. 

Whose office is perpetual. 3 To whose office it belongs not to preach 
the word, or administer the sacraments, but to take special care in distri- 
buting to the necessities of the poor. e 

Of Particular Congregations. 

IT is lawful and expedient that there be fixed congregations, that is, a 
certain company of Christians to meet in one assembly ordinarily for 
publick worship. When believers multiply to such a number, that they 
cannot conveniently meet in one place, it is lawful and expedient that they 
should be divided into distinct and fixed congregations, for the better ad- 
ministration of such ordinances as belong unto them, and the discharge of 
mutual duties. f 

The ordinary way of dividing Christians into distinct congregations, 
and most expedient for edification, is by the respective bounds of their 
dwellings. 

First, Because they who dwell together, being bound to all kind of 
moral duties one to another, have the better opportunity thereby to dis- 
charge them; which moral tie is perpetual; for Christ came not to 
destroy the law, but to fulfil it.s 

Secondly, The communion of saints must be so ordered, as may stand 



with the most convenient use of the ordinances 
duties, without respect of persons. 11 

on teaching ; Ver.- 8. Or he that exhort- 
eth, on exhortation : he that giveth, let 
him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, 
with diligence ; he that sheweth mercy, 
with cheerfulness. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And 
God hath set some in the church, first, 
apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, 
teachers; after that miracles; then gifts 
of healings, helps, governments, diversities 
of tongues. 

c Phil. i. 1. Paul and Timotheus, the 
servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints 
in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, 
with the bishops and deacons. 1 Tim. iii. 
8. Likewise must the deacons be grave, 
not double tongued, not given to much 
wine, not greedy of filthy lucre. 

d 1 Tim. iii. 8. Likewise must the 
deacons be grave, not double tongued, 
not given to much wine, not greedy of 
filthy lucre. [See in the Bible to Ver. 15.] 
Acts vi. 1. And in those days, when the 
number of the disciples was multiplied, 
there arose a murmuring of the Grecians 
against the Hebrews, because their widows 
were neglected in the daily ministration. 
Ver. 2. Then the twelve called the multi- 
tude of the disciples unto them, and said, 
It is not reason that we should leave the 
word of God, and serve tables. Ver. 3. 
"Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among 
you seven men of honest report, full of the 



and discharge of moral 



Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may 
appoint over this business. Ver. 4. But 
we will give ourselves continually to 
prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 
e Acts vi. 1-4. [See before in letter d .] 
f 1 Cor. xiv. 26. Let all things be done 
unto edifying. Ver. 33. For God is not 
the author of confusion, but of peace, as 
in all churches of the saints. Ver. 40. 
Let all things be done decently, and in 
order. 

s Deut. xv. 7. If there be among you 
a poor man of one of thy brethren within 
any of thy gates, in thy land which the 
Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not 
harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand 
from thy poor brother. Ver. 11. For the 
poor shall never cease out of the land : 
therefore I command thee, saying, Thou 
shalt open thine hand wide unto thy 
brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in 
thy land. Matt. xxii. 39. And the second 
is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neigh- 
bour as thyself. Matt. v. 17. Think not 
that I am come to destroy the law or the 
prophets : I am not come to destroy, but 
to fulfil. 

h 1 Cor. xiv. 26. Let all things be 
done unto edifying. Heb. x. 24. And let 
us consider one another, to provoke un,to 
love, and to good works: Ver. 25. Not 
forsaking the assembling of ourselves to- 



404 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



Thirdly, The pastor and people must so nearly cohabit together, as 
that they may mutually perform their duties each to other with most con- 
veniency. 

In this company some must be set apart to bear office. 

Of the Officers of a particular Congregation. 

FOR officers in a single congregation, there ought to be one at the least, 
both to labour in the word and doctrine, and to rule. 1 
It is also requisite that there should be others to join in government. 11 
And likewise it is requisite that there be others to take special care for 
the relief of the poor. 1 

The number of each of which is to be proportioned according to the 
condition of the congregation. 

These officers are to meet together at convenient and set times, for the 
well ordering of the affairs of that congregation, each according to his 
office. 

It is most expedient that, in these meetings, one whose office is to 
labour in the word and doctrine, do moderate in their proceedings.™ 

Of the Ordinances in a particular Congregation. 

THE ordinances in a single congregation are, prayer, thanksgiving, and 
singing of psalms, n the word read, (although there follow no imme- 
diate explication of what is read,) the word expounded and applied, 
catechising, the sacraments administered, collection made for the poor, 
dismissing the people with a blessing. 

Of Church-Government, and the several sorts of Assemblies for the same. 

CHRIST hath instituted a government, and governors ecclesiastical in 
the church : to that purpose, the apostles did immediately receive 
the keys from the hand of J esus Christ, and did use and exercise them in 
all the churches of the world upon all occasions. 

gether, as the manner of some is ; but 1 Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called 
exhorting one another : and so much the the multitude of the disciples unto them, 
more, as ye see the day approaching, and said, It is not reason that we 
James ii. 1. My brethren, have not the should leave the word of God, and serve 
faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord tables. Ver. 3. Wherefore, brethren, 
of glory, with respect of persons. Ver. look ye out among you seven men of 
2. For if there come unto your assembly honest report, full of the Holy Ghost 
a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over 
and there come in also a poor man in vile this business. 

raiment, etc. m 1 Tim. v. 17. Let the elders that ride 

i Prov. xxix. 18. Where there is no well be counted worthy of double honour, 
vision, the people perish : but he that especially they who labour in the word 
keepeth the law, happy is he. 1 Tim. v. and doctrine. 

17. Let the elders that rule well be n 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, 
counted worthy of double honour, especi- first of all, supplications, prayers, inter- 
ally they who labour in the word and cessions, and giving of thanks, be made 
doctrine. Heb. xiii, 7. Remember them for all men. 1 Cor. xiv. 15. What is it 
which have the rule over you, who have then ? I will pray with the spirit, and I 
spoken unto you the word of God; whose will pray with the understanding also ; I 
faith follow, considering the end of their will sing with the spirit, and I will sing 
conversation. -nith the understanding also. Ver. 16. 

k 1 Cor. xii. 28. And God hath set some Else, when thou shalt bless with the spirit, 
in the church, first, apostles ; secondarily, how shall he that occupieth the room of 
prophets ; thirdly, teachers ; after that the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of 
miracles ; then gifts of healings, helps, thanks, seeing he understandetn not what 
governments, diversities of tongues. thou sayest ? 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



405 



And Christ hath since continually furnished some in his church with 
gifts of government, and with commission to execute the same, when called 
thereunto. 

It is lawful, and agreeable to the word of God, that the church be 
governed by several sorts of assemblies, which are congregational, classical, 
and synodical. 

Of the power in common of all these Assemblies. 

IT is lawful, and agreeable to the word of God, that the several assemblies 
before mentioned have power to convent, and call before them, any 
person within their several bounds, whom the ecclesiastical business which 
is before them doth concern. 

They have power to hear and determine such causes and differences as 
do orderly come before them. 

It is lawful, and agreeable to the word of God, that all the said assem- 
blies have some power to dispense church-censures. 

Of Congregational Assemblies, that is, the Meeting of the ruling Officers 
of a particular Congregation, for the Government thereof. 

THE ruling officers of a particular congregation have power, authorita- 
tively, to call before them any member of the congregation, as they 
shall see just occasion. 

To enquire into the knowledge and spiritual estate of the several mem- 
bers of the congregation. 
To admonish and rebuke. 

Which three branches are proved by Heb. xiii. 17; 1 Thess. v. 12, 13; 
Ezek. xxxiv. 4. p 

Authoritative suspension from the Lord's table, of a person not yet cast 
out of the church, is agreeable to the scripture : 

First, Because the ordinance itself must not be profaned. 

Secondly, Because we are charged to withdraw from those that walk 
disorderly. 

Thirdly, Because of the great sin and danger, both to him that comes 
unworthily, and also to the whole church. q And there was power and 

Matt, xviii. 15. Moreover, if thy bro- p Heb. xiii. 17. Obey them that have 

ther shall trespass against thee, go and the rule over you, and submit yourselves: 

tell him his fault between thee and him for they watch for your souls, as they that 

alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast must give account; that they may do it 

gained thy brother. Ver. 16. But if he with joy, and not with grief : for that is 

will not hear thee, then take with thee unprofitable for you. 1 Thess. v. 12. And 

one or two more, that in the mouth of two we beseech you, brethren, to know them 

or three witnesses every word may be which labour among you, and are over you 

established. Ver. 17. And if he shall ne- in the Lord, and admonish you ; Ver. 13. 

gleet to hear them, tell it unto the church : And to esteem them very highly in love 

but if he neglect to hear the church, let for their work's sake. And be at peace 

him be unto thee as an heathen man and among yourselves. Ezek. xxxiv. 4. The 

a publican. Ver. 18. Verily I say unto diseased have ye not strengthened, neither 

you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth have ye healed that which was sick, nei- 

shall be bound in heaven ; and whatsoever ther have ye bound up that which was 

ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in broken, neither have ye brought again 

heaven. Ver. 19. Again I say unto you, that which was driven away, neither have 

That if two of you shall agree on earth as ye sought that which was lost ; but with 

touching any thing that they shall ask, it force and with cruelty have ye ruled them, 

shall be done for them of my Father which i Matt. vii. 6. Give not that which is 

is in heaven. Ver. 20. For where two or holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your 

three are gathered together in my name, pearls before swine, lest they trample 

there am I in the midst of them. them under their feet, and turn again and 



406 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



authority, under the Old Testament, to keep unclean persons from holy 
things/ 

The like power and authority, by way of analogy, continues under the 
New Testament. 

The ruling officers of a particular congregation have power authorita- 
tively to suspend from the Lord's table a person not yet cast out of the 
church : 

First, Because those who have authority to judge of, and admit, such 
as are fit to receive the sacrament, have authority to keep back such as 
shall be found unworthy. 

Secondly, Because it is an ecclesiastical business of ordinary practice 
belonging to that congregation. 

When congregations are divided and fixed, they need all mutual help 
one from another, both in regard of their intrinsical weaknesses and 
mutual dependence, as also in regard of enemies from without. 

Of Classical Assemblies. 

THE scripture doth hold out a presbytery in a church. s 
A presbytery consisteth of ministers of the word, and such other 
publick officers as are agreeable to and warranted by the word of God to 
be church- governors, to join with the ministers in the government of the 
church.* 

The scripture doth hold forth, that many particular congregations may 
be under one presbyterial government. 
This proposition is proved by instances : 



rend you. 2 Thess. iii. 6. Now we com- 
mand you, brethren, in the name of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw your- 
selves from every brother that walketh 
disorderly, and not after the tradition 
which he received of us. Ver. 14. And if 
any man obey not our word by this epistle, 
note that man, and have no company with 
him, that he may be ashamed. Ver. 15. 
Yet count him not as an enemy, but ad- 
monish him as a brother. 1 Cor. xi. 27. 
Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, 
and drink this cup of the Lord, un- 
worthily, shall be guilty of the body and 
blood of the Lord. [See on to the end of the 
Chapter.] Compared with Jude, Ver. 23. 
And others save with fear, pulling them 
out of the fire ; hating even the garment 
spotted by the flesh. 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay 
hands suddenly on no man, neither be 
partaker of other men's sins : keep thyself 
pure. 

r Lev. xiii. 5. And the priest shall look 
on him the seventh day: and, behold, if 
the plague in his sight be at a stay, and 
the plague spread not in the skin; then 
the priest shall shut him up seven days 
more. Numb. ix. 7, And those men said 
unto him, We are defiled by the dead body 
of a man : wherefore are we kept back, 
that we may not offer an offering of the 
Lord in his appointed season among the 



children of Israel ? 2 Chron. xxiii. 19. 
And he set the porters at the gates of the 
house of the Lord, that none which was 
unclean in any thing should enter in. 

' 1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift 
that is in thee, which was given thee by 
prophecy, with the laying on of the hands 
of the presbytery. Acts xv. 2. When 
therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small 
dissension and disputation with them, 
they determined that Paul and Barnabas, 
and certain other of them, should go up 
to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders 
about this question. Ver. 4. And when 
they were come to Jerusalem, they were 
received of the church, and of the apostles 
and elders, and they declared all things 
that God had done with them. Ver. 6. 
And the apostles and elders came together 
for to consider of this matter. 

t Rom. xii. 7. Or ministry, let us wait 
on our ministering; or he that teacheth, 
on teaching ; Ver. 8. Or he that exhort- 
eth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let 
him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, 
with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, 
with cheerfulness. 1 Cor. xii. 28. And 
God hath set some in the church, first, 
apostles; secondarily, prophets; thirdly, 
teachers; after that miracles; then gifts 
of healings, helps, governments, diversities 
of tongues. 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



407 



L First, Of the church of Jerusalem, which consisted of more congre- 
gations than one, and all these congregations were under one presbyterial 
government. 

This appeareth thus : 

First, The church of Jerusalem consisted of more congregations than 
one, as is manifest : 

1st, By the multitude of believers mentioned, in divers [places], both 
before the dispersion of the believers there, by means of the persecution^ 
and also after the dispersion.™ 

2dly, By the many apostles and other preachers in the church of Jeru- 
salem. And if there were but one congregation there, then each apostle 
preached but seldom ; x which will not consist with Acts vi. 2. 

3dly, The diversity of languages among the believers, mentioned both 
in the second and sixth chapters of the Acts, doth argue more congrega- 
tions than one in that church. 

Secondly, All those congregations were under one presbyterial govern- 
ment; because, 

1st, They were one church.y 

2dly, The elders of the church are mentioned. 2 



Y Acts viii. 1. And Saul was consenting 
unto his death. And at that time there 
was a great persecution against the church 
which was at Jerusalem ; and they were 
all scattered abroad throughout the re- 
gions of Judea and Samaria, except the 
apostles. Acts i. 15. And in those days 
Peter stood up in the midst of the dis- 
ciples, and said, (the number of the names 
together were about an hundred and 
twenty.) Acts ii. 41. Then they that 
gladly received his word were baptized : 
and the same day there were added unto 
them about three thousand souls. Ver. 
46. And they, continuing daily with one 
accord in the temple, and breaking bread 
from house to house, did eat their meat 
with gladness and singleness of heart, 
Ver. 47. Praising God, and having favour 
with all the people. And the Lord added 
to the church daily such as should be 
saved. Acts iv. 4. Howbeit many of 
them which heard the word believed ; 
and the number of the men was about 
five thousand. Acts v. 14. And believers 
were <he more added to the Lord, multi- 
tudes both of men and women. Acts vi. 1. 
And in those days, when the number of 
the disciples was multiplied, there arose a 
murmuring of the Grecians against the 
Hebrews, because their widows were ne- 
glected in the daily ministration. Ver. 
7. And the word of God increased: and 
the number of the disciples multiplied 
in Jerusalem greatly : and a great com- 
pany of the priests were obedient to the 
faith. 

w Acts ix. 31. Then had the churches 
rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and 



Samaria, and were edified; and walking 
in the fear of the Lord, and in the com- 
fort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 
Acts xii. 24. But the word of God grew 
and multiplied. Acts xxi. 20. And when 
they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and 
said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how 
many thousands of Jews there are which 
believe; and they are all zealous of the 
law. 

x Acts vi. 2. Then the twelve called the 
multitude of the disciples unto them, and 
said, It is not reason that we should leave 
the word of God, and serve tables. 

y Acts viii. 1. And Saul was consenting 
unto his death. And at that time there 
was a great persecution against the church 
which was at Jerusalem; and they were 
all scattered abroad throughout the re- 
gions of Judea and Samaria, except the 
apostles. Acts ii. 47. Praising God, and 
having favour with all the people. And 
the Lord added to the church daily such 
as should be saved. Compared with Acts 
v. 11. And great fear came upon all the 
church, and upon as many as heard these 
things. Acts xii. 5. Peter therefore was 
kept in prison; but prayer was made 
without ceasing of the church unto God 
for him. Acts xv. 4. And when they 
were come to Jerusalem, they were re- 
ceived of the church, and of the apostles 
and elders, and they declared all things 
that God had done with them. 

z Acts xi. 30. Which also they did, and 
sent it to the elders by the hands of Bar- 
nabas and Saul. Acts xv. 4. And when 
they were come to Jerusalem, they were 
received of the church, and of the apostles 



408 



THE FORM OP CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



3dly, The apostles did the ordinary acts of presbyters, as presbyters in 
that kirk; which proveth a presbyterial church before the dispersion, 
Acts vi. 

Stilly, The several congregations in Jerusalem being one church, the 
elders of that church are mentioned as meeting together for acts of 
government;* which proves that those several congregations were under 
one presbyterial government. 

And whether these congregations were fixed or not fixed, in regard 
of ofiicers or members, it is all one as to the truth of the proposi- 
tion. 

Nor doth there appear any material difference betwixt the several con- 
gregations in Jerusalem, and the many congregations now in the ordinary 
condition of the church, as to the point of fixedness required of officers or 

members. 

Thirdly, Therefore the scripture doth hold forth, that many congrega- 
tions may be under one presbyterial government. 

II. Secondly, By the instance of the church of Ephesus ; for, 
First, That there were more congregations than one in the church of 
Ephesus, appears by Acts xx. 31, b where is mention of Paul's continuance 
at Ephesus in preaching for the space of three years ; and Acts xix. 18, 19, 
20, where the special effect of the word is mentioned ; c and ver. 10. and 
17- of the same chapter, where is a distinction of Jews and Greeks ; d and 
1 Cor. xvi. 8, 9, where is a reason of Paul's stay at Ephesus until Pente- 
cost; 6 and ver, 19, where is mention of a particular church in the house 
of Aquila and Priscilla, then at Ephesus/ as appears, Acts xviii. 19, 24, 



and elders, and they declared all things 
that God had done with them. Ver. 6. 
And the apostles and elders came together 
for to consider of this matter. Ver. 22. 
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, 
with the whole church, to send chosen 
men of their own company to Antioch 
with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas 
surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men 
among the brethren. Acts xxi. 17. And 
when we were come to Jerusalem, the 
brethren received us gladly. Ver. 18. 
And the day following Paul went in with 
us unto James; and all the elders were 
present. 

a Acts xi: 30. Which also they did, and 
sent it to the elders by the hands of Bar- 
nabas and Saul. Acts xv. 4. And when 
they were come to Jerusalem, they were 
received of the church, and of the apostles 
and elders, and they declared all things 
that God had done with them. Ver. 6. 
And the apostles and elders came together 
for to consider of this matter. Ver. 22. 
Then pleased it the apostles and elders, 
with the whole church, to send chosen men 
of their own company to Antioch with 
Paul and Barnabas ; namely, Judas sur- 
named Barsabas, and Silas, chief men 
among the brethren. Acts xxi. 17. And 
when we were come to Jerusalem, the 
brethren received us gladly. Ver. 18. 



And the day following Paul went in with 
us unto James; and all the elders were 
present. [And so forward.] 

b Acts xx. 31. Therefore watch, and re- 
member, that, by the space of three years, 
I ceased not to warn every one night and 
day with tears. 

c Acts xix. 18. And many that believed 
came, and confessed, and shewed their 
deeds. Ver. 19. Many of them also which 
used curious arts brought their books to- 
gether, and burned them before all men : 
and they counted the price of them, and 
found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 
Ver. 20. So mightily grew the word of God 
and prevailed. 

d Acts xix. 10. And this continued by 
the space of two years; so that all they 
which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the 
Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Ver. 
17. And this was known to all the Jews 
and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus ; and 
fear fell on them all, and the name of the 
Lord Jesus was magnified. 

e 1 Cor. xvi. 8. But I will tarry at 
Ephesus until Pentecost. Ver. 9. For a 
great door and effectual is opened unto me, 
and there are many adversaries. 

f 1 Cor. xvi. 19. The churches of Asia 
salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute 
you much in the Lord, with the church 
that is in their house. 



THE FORM OF CHURCH GOVERNMENT. 



409 



26. s All which laid together, doth prove that the multitude of believers 
did make more congregations than one in the church of Ephesus. 

Secondly, That there were many elders over these many congregations, 
as one flock, appeareth. h 

Thirdly, That these many congregations were one church, and that 
they were under one presbyterial government, appeareth. 1 

Of Synodical Assemblies. 

THE scripture doth hold out another sort of assemblies for the govern- 
ment of the church, beside classical and congregational, all which 
we call Synodical* 

Pastors and teachers, and other church-governors, (as also other fit per- 
sons, when it shall be deemed expedient,) are members of those assemblies 
which we call Synodical, where they have a lawful calling thereunto. 

Synodical assemblies may lawfully be of several sorts, as provincial, 
national, and oecumenical. 

It is lawful, and agreeable to the word of Grod, that there be a subor- 
dination of congregational, classical, provincial, and national assemblies, 
for the government of the church. 

Of Ordination of Ministers. 
TTNDER the head of Ordination of Ministers is to be considered, either 
\j the doctrine of ordination, or the power of it. 



g Acts xviii. 19. And he came to Ephe- 
sus, and left them there : but he himself 
entered into the synagogue, and reasoned 
with the Jews. Ver. 24. And a certain 
Jew, named Apollos, born at Alexandria, 
an eloquent man, and mighty in the scrip- 
tures, came to Ephesus. Ver. 26. And he 
began to speak boldly in the synagogue: 
whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, 
they took him unto them, and expounded 
unto him the way of God more perfectly. 

h Acts xx. 17. And from Miletus he 
sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of 
the church. Ver. 25. And now, behold, 
I know that ye all, among whom I have 
gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall 
see my face no more. Ver. 28. Take heed 
therefore unto yourselves, and to all the 
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath 
made you overseers, to feed the church of 
God, which he hath purchased with his 
own blood. Ver. 30. Also of your own 
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse 
things, to draw away disciples after them. 
Ver. 36. And when he had thus spoken, 
he kneeled down, and prayed with them 
all. Ver. 37. And they all wept sore, and 
fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him. 

i Rev. ii. 1. Unto the angel of the church 
of Ephesus write; These things saith he 
that holdeth the seven stars in his right 
hand, who walketh in the midst of the 
seven golden candlesticks ; Ver. 2. I know 
thy works, and thy labour, and thy pa- 
tience, and how thou canst not bear them 



which are evil : and thou hast tried them 
which say they are apostles, and are not, 
and hast found them liars: Ver. 3. And 
hast borne, and hast patience, and for my 
name's sake hast laboured, and hast not 
fainted. Ver. 4. Nevertheless I have 
somewhat against thee, because thou hast 
left thy first love. Ver. 5. Remember 
therefore from whence thou art fallen, 
and repent, and do the first works; or else 
I will come unto thee quickly, and will 
remove thy candlestick out of his place, 
except thou repent. Ver. 6. But this thou 
hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the 
Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. Joined 
with Acts xx. 17, 28. [See in letter h .] 

k Acts xv. 2. When therefore Paul and 
Barnabas had no small dissension and dis- 
putation with them, they determined that 
Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of 
them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the 
apostles and elders about this question. 
Ver. 6. And the apostles and elders came 
together for to consider of this matter. 
Ver. 22. Then pleased it the apostles and 
elders, with the whole church, to send 
chosen men of their own company to An- 
tioch, with Paul and Barnabas; namely, 
Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief 
men among the brethren: Ver. 23. And 
they wrote letters by them after this 
manner ; The apostles, and elders, and 
brethren, send greeting unto the brethren 
which are of the Gentiles in Antioch, and 
Syria, and Cilicia. 



410 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



Touching the Doctrine of Ordination. 

NO man ought to take upon him the office of a minister of the word 
without a lawful calling. 1 
Ordination is always to be continued in the church. m 
Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person to some publick church 
office. 11 

Every minister of the word is to be ordained by imposition of hands, 
and prayer, with fasting, by those preaching presbyters to whom it doth 
belong. 

It is agreeable to the word of God, and very expedient, that such as 
are to be ordained ministers, be designed to some particular church, or 
other ministerial charge.P 



1 John iii. 27. John answered and said, 
A man can receive nothing, except it be 
given him from heaven. Rom. x. 14. 
How then shall they call on him in whom 
they have not believed ? and how shall 
tbey believe in him of whom they have not 
heard ? and how shall they hear without 
a preacher ? Ver. 15. And how shall 
they preach except they be sent? as it is 
written, How beautiful are the feet of 
them that preach the gospel of peace, and 
bring glad tidings of good things ! Jer. 
xiv. 14. Then the Lord said unto me, 
The prophets prophesy lies in my name : I 
sent them not, neither have I commanded 
them, neither spake unto them : they 
prophesy unto you a false vision and divi- 
nation, and a thing of nought, and the 
deceit of their heart. Heb. v. 4. And no 
man taketh this honour unto himself, but 
he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 

In Tit. i. 5. For this cause left I thee in 
Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the 
things that are wanting, and ordain elders 
in every city, as I had appointed thee. 
1 Tim, v. 21. I charge thee before God, 
and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect 
angels, that thou observe these things, 
without preferring one before another, 
doing nothing by partiality. Ver. 22. 
Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither 
be partaker of other men's sins: keep 
thyself pure. 

n Numb. viii. 10. And thou shalt bring 
the Levites before the Lord ; and the chil- 
dren of Israel shall put their hands upon 
the Levites: Ver. 11. And Aaron shall 
offer the Levites before the Lord for an 
offering of the children of Israel, that they 
may execute the service of the Lord. 
Ver. 14. Thus shalt- thou separate the 
Levites from among the children of Israel ; 
and the Levites shall be mine. Ver. 19. 
And I have given the Levites as a gift to 
Aaron, and to his sons, from among the 
children of Israel, to do the service of the 



children of Israel in the tabernacle of the 
congregation, and to make an atonement 
for the children of Israel ; that there be 
no plague among the children of Israel, 
when the children of Israel come nigh 
unto the sanctuary. Ver. 22. And after 
that went the Levites in to do their ser- 
vice in the tabernacle of the congregation 
before Aaron, and before his sons : as the 
Lord had commanded Moses concerning 
the Levites, so did they unto them. Acts 
vi. 3. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out 
among you seven men of honest report, 
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom 
we may appoint over this business. Ver. 
5. And the saying pleased the whole 
multitude: and they chose Stephen, a 
man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, 
and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, 
and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a 
proselyte of Antioch ; Ver. 6. Whom 
they set before the apostles: and when 
they had prayed, they laid their hands on 
them. 

1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly on 
no man, neither be partaker of other men's 
sins : keep thyself pure. Acts xiv. 23. 
And when they had ordained them elders 
in every church, and had prayed with 
fasting, they commended them to the 
Lord, on whom they believed. Acts xiii. 
3. And when they had fasted and prayed, 
and laid their hands on them, they sent 
them away. 

p Acts xiv. 23. [See before.] Tit. i. 5. 
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that 
thou shouldest set in order the things that 
are wanting, and ordain elders in every 
city, as I had appointed thee. Acts xx. 
17. And from Miletus he sent to Ephe- 
sus, and called the elders of the church. 
Ver. 28. Take heed therefore unto your- 
selves, and to all the flock, over the which 
the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, 
to feed the church of God, which he hath 
purchased with his own blood. 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



411 



He that is to be ordained minister, must be duly qualified, both for life 
and ministerial abilities, according to the rules of the apostle.^ 

He is to be examined and approved by those by whom he is to be or- 
dained. E 

No man is to be ordained a minister for a particular congregation, if 
they of that congregation can shew just cause of exception against him. s 

Touching the Power of Ordination. 

ORDINATION is the act of a presbytery.* 
The power of ordering the whole work of ordination is in the whole 
presbytery, which, when it is over more congregations than one, whether 
these congregations be fixed or not fixed, in regard of officers or members, 
it is indifferent as to the point of ordination. v 

It is very requisite, that no single congregation, that can conveniently 
associate, do assume to itself all and sole power in ordination : 

1. Because there is no example in scripture that any single congrega- 
tion, which might conveniently associate, did assume to itself all and sole 
power in ordination ; neither is there any rule which may warrant such a 
practice. 

2. Because there is in scripture example of an ordination in a pres- 
bytery over divers congregations ; as in the church of Jerusalem, where 
were many congregations : these many congregations were under one 
presbytery, and this presbytery did ordain. 

The preaching presbyters orderly associated, either in cities or neigh- 
bouring villages, are those to whom the imposition of hands doth apper- 
tain, for those congregations within their bounds respectively. 

Concerning the Doctrinal Part of Ordination of Ministers. 
1. 1VTO man ought to take upon him the office of a minister of the word 
J. i without a lawful calling/ 57 

2. Ordination is always to be continued in the church. x 

a 1 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must be Ver. 9. Holding fast the faithful word as 

blameless, the husband of one wife, vigi- he hath been taught, that he may be able 

lant, sober, of good behaviour, given to by sound doctrine both to exhort and to 

hospitality, apt to teach ; Ver. 3. Not convince the gainsayers. 

given to wine, no striker, not greedy of 1 1 Tim. iii. 7. Moreover, he must have 

filthy lucre ; but patient, not a brawler, a good report of them which are without ; 

not covetous; Ver. 4. One that ruleth lest he fall into reproach and the snare of 

well his own house, having his children in the devil. Ver. 10. And let these also 

subjection with all gravity ; Ver. 5. (For first be proved ; then let them use the 

if a man know not how to rule his own office of a deacon, being found blameless, 

house, how shall he take care of the church 1 Tim. v. 22. Lay hands suddenly on no 

of God ?) Ver. 6. Not a novice, lest, being man, neither be partaker of other men's 

lifted up with pride, he fall into the con- sins : keep thyself pure, 

demnation of the devil. Tit. i. 5. For * 1 Tim. iii. 2. A bishop then must be 

this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou blameless, the husband of one wife, vigi- 

shouldest set in order the things that lant, sober, of good behaviour, given to 

are wanting, and ordain elders in every hospitality, apt to teach. Tit. i. 7. For a 

city, as I had appointed thee. Ver. 6. bishop must be blameless, as the steward 

If any be blameless, the husband of one of God. 

wife, having faithful children, ?iot accused 1 1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift 

of riot or unruly. Ver. 7. For a bishop that is in thee, which was given thee by 

must be blameless, as the steward of God ; prophecy, with the laying on of the hands 

not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to of the pres bytery. 

wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre ; y 1 Tim. iv. 1 4. [See in letter t.] 

Ver. 8. But a lover of hospitality, a lover w See before in letter \ 

of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate ; x See before in letter m . 



412 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



3. Ordination is the solemn setting apart of a person to some publick 
church office.y 

4. Every minister of the word is to be ordained by imposition of hands, 
and prayer, with fasting, by these preaching presbyters to whom it doth 
belong. 2 

5. The power of ordering the whole work of ordination is in the whole 
presbytery, which, when it is over more congregations than one, whether 
those congregations be fixed or not fixed, in regard of officers or members, 
it is indifferent as to the point of ordination. a 

6. It is agreeable to the word, and very expedient, that such as are to be 
ordained ministers be designed to some particular church, or other mini- 
sterial charge. b 

7. He that is to be ordained minister, must be duly qualified, both for 
life and ministerial abilities, according to the rules of the apostle. 

8. He is to be examined and approved by those by whom he is to be 
ordained. d 

9. No man is to be ordained a minister for a particular congregation, 
if they of that congregation can shew just cause of exception against him. e 

10. Preaching presbyters orderly associated, either in cities or neigh- 
bouring villages, are those to whom the imposition of hands doth appertain, 
for those congregations within their bounds respectively/ 

11. In extraordinary cases, something extraordinary may be done, until 
a settled order may be had, yet keeping as near as possibly may be to the 
rule.s 

12. There is at this time (as we humbly conceive) an extraordinary oc- 
casion for a way of ordination for the present supply of ministers. 

The Directory for the Ordination of Ministers. 

IT being manifest by the word of God, that no man ought to take upon 
him the office of a minister of the gospel, until he be lawfully called 
and ordained thereunto ; and that the work of ordination is to be performed 
with all due care, wisdom, gravity, and solemnity, we humbly tender these 
directions, as requisite to be observed. 

11 He that is to be ordained, being either nominated by the people, or 

y See before in letter D . burnt-offering. So the service of the house 

2 See before in letter °. of the Lord was set in order. Ver. 36. 

a See before in letter v. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, 

b See before in letter p. that God had prepared the people : for the 

See before in letter % thing was done suddenly. 2 Chron. xxx. 

d See before in letter r . 2. For the king had taken counsel, and 

e See before in letter s. his princes, and all the congregation in 

f 1 Tim. iv. 14. Neglect not the gift Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the 

that is in thee, which was given thee by second month. Ver. 3. For they could 

prophecy, with the laying on of the hands not keep it at that time, because the priests 

of the presbytery. had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, 

« 2 Chron. xxix. 34. But the priests neither had the people gathered them- 

were too few, so that they could not flay selves together to Jerusalem. Ver. 4. 

all the burnt-offerings : wherefore their And the thing pleased the king and all 

brethren the Levites did help them, till the congregation. Ver. 5. So they esta- 

the work was ended, and until the other blished a decree to make proclamation 

priests had sanctified themselves ; for the throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba 

Levites were more upright in heart to even to Dan, that they should come to 

sanctify themselves than the priests. Ver. keep the passover unto the Lord God of 

35. And also the burnt-offerings were in Israel at Jerusalem : for they had not done 

abundance, with the fat of the peace-offer- it for a long time in such sort as it was 

ings, and the drink-offerings for every written. 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



413 



otherwise commended to the presbytery, for any place, must address him- 
self to the presbytery, and bring with him a testimonial of his taking the 
Covenant of the three kingdoms ; of his diligence and proficiency in his 
studies ; what degrees he hath taken in the university, and what hath been 
the time of his abode there ; and withal of his age, which is to be twenty- 
four years ; but especially of his life and conversation. 

2. Which being considered by the presbytery, they are to proceed to 
enquire touching the grace of God in him, and whether he be of such 
holiness of life as is requisite in a minister of the gospel ; and to examine 
him touching his learning and sufficiency, and touching the evidences of 
his calling to the holy ministry ; and, in particular, his fair and direct call- 
ing to that place. 

The Rules for Examination are these : 

" (1.) That the party examined be dealt withal in a brotherly way, with 
" mildness of spirit, and with special respect to the gravity, modesty, and 
" quality of every one. 

i( (2.) He shall be examined touching his skill in the original tongues, 
" and his trial to be made by reading the Hebrew and Greek Testaments, * 
" and rendering some portion of some into Latin ; and if he be defective 
"in them, enquiry shall be made more strictly after his other learning, and 
" whether he hath skill in logick and philosophy. 

" (3.) What authors in divinity he hath read, and is best acquainted 
" with ; and trial shall be made in his knowledge of the grounds of re- 
" ligion, and of his ability to defend the orthodox doctrine contained in 
" them against all unsound and erroneous opinions, especially these of the 
" present age ; of his skill in the sense and meaning of such places of 
" scripture as shall be proposed unto him, in cases of conscience, and in 
" the chronology of the scripture, and the ecclesiastical history. 

" (4.) If he hath not before preached in publick with approbation of 
" such as are able to judge, he shall, at a competent time assigned him, ex- 
" pound before the presbytery such a place of scripture as shall be given him. 

" (5.) He shall also, within a competent time, frame a discourse in 
" Latin upon such a common-place or controversy in divinity as shall be ** 
" assigned to him, and exhibit to the presbytery such theses as express 
" the sum thereof, and maintain a dispute upon them. 

" (6.) He shall preach before the people, — the presbytery, or some of 
" the ministers of the word appointed by them, being present. 

" (7.) The proportion of his gifts in relation to the place unto which 
" he is called shall be considered. 

" (8.) Beside the trial of his gifts in preaching, he shall undergo an 
" examination in the premises two several days, and more, if the presby- 
" tery shall judge it necessary. 

" (9.) And as for him that hath formerly been ordained a minister, and 
" is to be removed to another charge, he shall bring a testimonial of his 
" ordination, and of his abilities and conversation, whereupon his fitness 
" for that place shall be tried by his preaching there, and (if it shall be 
"judged necessary) by a further examination of him." 

3. In all which he being approved, he is to be sent to the church where 
he is to serve, there to preach three several days, and to converse with 
the people, that they may have trial of his gifts for their edification, and 
may have time and occasion to enquire into, and the better to know, his 
life and conversation. 



414 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



4. In the last of these three days appointed for the trial of his gifts in 
preaching, there shall be sent from the presbytery to the congregation a 
publick intimation in writing, which shall be publickly read before the 
people, and after affixed to the church-door, to signify that such a day a 
competent number of the members of that congregation, nominated by 
themselves, shall appear before the presbytery, to give their consent and 
approbation to such a man to be their minister ; or otherwise, to put in, 
with all Christian discretion and meekness, what exceptions they have 
against him. And if, upon the day appointed, there be no just exception 
against him, but the people give their consent, then the presbytery shall 
proceed to ordination. 

0. Upon the day appointed for ordination, which is to be performed in 
that church where he that is to be ordained is to serve, a solemn fast shall 
be kept by the congregation, that they may the more earnestly join in 
prayer for a blessing upon the ordinances of Christ, and the labours of his 
servant for their good. The presbytery shall come to the place, or at 
least three or four ministers of the word shall be sent thither from the 
presbytery ; of which one appointed by the presbytery shall preach to the 
people concerning the office and duty of ministers of Christ, and how the 
people ought to receive them for their work's sake. 

6. After the sermon, the minister who hath preached shall, in the face 
of the congregation, demand of him who is now to be ordained, concern- 
ing his faith in Christ Jesus, and his persuasion of the truth of the re- 
formed religion, according to the scriptures ; his sincere intentions and 
ends in desiring to enter into this calling ; his diligence in praying, read- 
ing, meditation, preaching, ministering the sacraments, discipline, and 
doing all ministerial duties towards his charge ; his zeal and faithfulness 
in maintaining the truth of the gospel, and unity of the church, against 
error and schism ; his care that himself and his family may be unblame- 
able, and examples to the flock; his willingness and humility, in meekness 
of spirit, to submit unto the admonitions of his brethren, and discipline 
of the church; and his resolution to continue in his duty against all 
trouble and persecution. 

7. In all which having declared himself, professed his willingness, and 
promised his endeavours, by the help of Grod ; the minister likewise shall 
demand of the people concerning their willingness to receive and ac- 
knowledge him as the minister of Christ; and to obey and submit unto 
him, as having rule over them in the Lord ; and to maintain, encourage, 
and assist him in all the parts of his office. 

8. Which being mutually promised by the people, the presbytery, or 
the ministers sent from them for ordination, shall solemnly set him apart 
to the office and work of the ministry, by laying their hands on him, 
which is to be accompanied with a short prayer or blessing, to this effect : 

" Thankfully acknowledging the great mercy of God in sending Jesus 
" Christ for the redemption of his people ; and for his ascension to the 
" right hand of Grod the Father, and thence pouring out his Spirit, and 
" giving gifts to men, apostles, evangelists, prophets, pastors, and teachers ; 
" for the gathering and building up of his church ; and for fitting and in- 
" dining this man to this great work : * to entreat him to fit him with his 
" Holy Spirit, to give him (who in his name we thus set apart to this holy 
" service) to fulfil the work of his ministry in all things, that he may both 
" save himself, and his people committed to his charge." 

* Here let them impose hands on his head. 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



415 



9. This or the like form of prayer and blessing being ended, let the 
minister who preached briefly exhort him to consider of the greatness of 
his office and work, the danger of negligence both to himself and his 
people, the blessing which will accompany his faithfulness in this life, and 
that to come ; and withal exhort the people to carry themselves to him, 
as to their minister in the Lord, according to their solemn promise made 
before. And so by prayer commending both him and his flock to the 
grace of God, after singing of a psalm, let the assembly be dismissed with 
a blessing. 

10. If a minister be designed to a congregation, who hath been for- 
merly ordained presbyter according to the form of ordination which hath 
been in the church of England, which we hold for substance to be valid, 
and not to be disclaimed by any who have received it ; then, there being 
a cautious proceeding in matters of examination, let him be admitted 
without any new ordination. 

11. And in case any person already ordained minister in Scotland, or 
in any other reformed church, be designed to another congregation in 
England, he is to bring from that church to the presbytery here, within 
which that congregation is, a sufficient testimonial of his ordination, of 
his life and conversation while he lived with them, and of the causes of 
his removal ; and to undergo such a trial of his fitness and sufficiency, 
and to have the same course held with him in other particulars, as is set 
down in the rule immediately going before, touching examination and ad- 
mission. 

12. That records be carefully kept in the several presbyteries, of the 
names of the persons ordained, with their testimonials, the time and place 
of their ordination, of the presbyters who did impose hands upon them, 
and of the charge to which they are appointed. 

13. That no money or gift, of what kind soever, shall be received from 
the person to be ordained, or from any on his behalf, for ordination, or 
ought else belonging to it, by any of the presbytery, or any appertaining 
to any of them, upon what pretence soever. 

Thus far of ordinary Rules, and course of Ordination, in the ordinary way ; 
that which concerns the extraordinary way, requisite to he now practised, 
followeth. 

1. In these present exigencies, while we cannot have any presbyteries 
formed up to their whole power and work, and that many ministers are 
to be ordained for the service of the armies and navy, and to many con- 
gregations where there is no minister at all ; and where (by reason of the 
publick troubles) the people cannot either themselves enquire and find 
out one who may be a faithful minister for them, or have any with safety 
sent unto them, for such a solemn trial as was before mentioned in the 
ordinary rules ; especially, when there can be no presbytery near unto 
them, to whom they may address themselves, or which may come or send 
to them a fit man to be ordained in that congregation, and for that people ; 
and yet notwithstanding, it is requisite that ministers be ordained for 
them by some, who, being set apart themselves for the work of the minis- 
try, have power to join in the setting apart others, who are found fit and 
worthy. In those cases, until, by God's blessing, the aforesaid difficulties 
may be in some good measure removed, let some godly ministers, in or 
about the city of London, be designed by publick authority, who, being 
associated, may ordain ministers for the city and the vicinity, keeping as 



416 



THE FORM OF CHURCH-GOVERNMENT. 



near to the ordinary rules fore-mentioned as possibly they may ; and le: 
this association be for no other intent or purpose, but only for the worL 
of ordination. 

2. Let the like association be made by the same authority in grea- 
towns, and the neighbouring parishes in the several counties, which are 
at the present quiet and undisturbed, to do the like for the parts adjacent. 

3. Let such as are chosen, or appointed for the service of the armies or 
navy, be ordained, as aforesaid, by the associated ministers of London, or 
some others in the country. 

4. Let them do the like, when any man shall duly and lawfully be re- 
commended to them for the ministry of any congregation, who cannot 
enjoy liberty to have a trial of his parts and abilities, and desire the help 
of such ministers so associated, for the better furnishing of them with such 
a person as by them shall be judged fit for the service of that church and 
people. 



THE 

DIRECTORY FOR FAMILY-WORSHIP, 

APPROVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, FOR 
PIETY AND UNIFORMITY IN SECRET AND PRIVATE WORSHIP, 
AND MUTUAL EDIFICATION I 

"WITH 

AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ANNO 1647, FOR OBSERVING THE SAME. 



2d 



Assembly at Edinburgh, August 24, 1647. Sess. 10. 
Act for observing the Directions of the General Assembly for secret and private Worship, 
and mutual Edification ; and censuring such as neglect Family -worship. 

THE General Assembly, after mature deliberation, doth approve the following 
Rules and Directions for cherishing piety, and preventing division and schism ; 
and doth appoint ministers and ruling elders in each congregation to take special 
care that these Directions be observed and followed ; as likewise, that presbyteries 
and provincial synods enquire and make trial whether the said Directions be duly 
observed in their bounds ; and to reprove or censure (according to the quality of the 
offence), such as shall be found to be reprovable or censurable therein. And, to the 
end that these directions may not be rendered ineffectual and unprofitable among 
some, through the usual neglect of the very substance of the duty of Family-worship, 
the Assembly doth further require and appoint ministers and ruling elders to make 
diligent search and enquiry, in the congregations committed to their charge respec- 
tively, whether there be among them any family or families which use to neglect 
this necessary duty ; and if any such family be found, the head of the family is to 
be first admonished privately to amend his fault ; and, in case of his continuing 
therein, he is to be gravely and sadly reproved by the session ; after which reproof, 
if he be found still to neglect Family-worship, let him be, for his obstinacy in such an 
offence, suspended and debarred from the Lord's supper, as being justly esteemed 
unworthy to communicate therein, till he amend. 



DIRECTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 

CONCERNING SECRET AND PRIVATE WORSHIP, AND MUTUAL EDIFICATION ; 
FOR CHERISHING PIETY, FOR MAINTAINING UNITY, AND AVOIDING 
SCHISM AND DIVISION. 

BESIDES the publick worship in congregations, mercifully established 
in this land in great purity, it is expedient and necessary that secret 
worship of each person alone, and private worship of families, be pressed 
and set up ; that, with national reformation, the profession and power of 
godliness, both personal and domestick, be advanced. 

ii And first, for secret worship, it is most necessary, that every one 
apart, and by themselves, be given to prayer and meditation, the un- 
speakable benefit whereof is best known to them who are most exercised 
therein ; this being the mean whereby, in a special way, communion with 
God is entertained, and right preparation for all other duties obtained : 
and therefore it becometh not only pastors, within their several charges, 
to press persons of all sorts to perform this duty morning and evening, 
and at other occasions ; but also it is incumbent to the head of every 
family to have a care, that both themselves, and all within their charge, 
be daily diligent herein. 

II. The ordinary duties comprehended under the exercise of piety which 
should be in families, when they are convened to that effect, are these : 
Eirst, Prayer and praises performed with a special reference, as well to the 
publick condition of the kirk of God and this kingdom, as to the present 
case of the family, and every member thereof. Next, Reading of the 
scriptures, with catechising in a plain way, that the understandings of the 
simpler may be the better enabled to profit under the publick ordinances, 
and they made more capable to understand the scriptures when they are 
read ; together with godly conferences tending to the edification of all 
the members in the most holy faith : as also, admonition and rebuke, upon 
just reasons, from those who have authority in the family. 

III. As the charge and office of interpreting the holy scriptures is a 
part of the ministerial calling, which none (however otherwise qualified) 
should take upon him in any place, but he that is duly called thereunto ** 
by God and his kirk ; so in every family where there is any that can 
read, the holy scriptures should be read ordinarily to the family ; and it 

is commendable, that thereafter they confer, and by way of conference 
make some good use of what hath been read and heard. As, for example, 
if any sin be reproved in the word read, use may be made thereof to 
make all the family circumspect and watchful against the same ; or if any 
judgment be threatened, or mentioned to have been inflicted, in that por- 
tion of scripture which is read, use may be made to make all the family 
fear lest the same or a worse judgment befall them, unless they beware of 
the sin that procured it : and, finally, if any duty be required, or comfort 
held forth in a promise, use may be made to stir up themselves to employ 
Christ for strength to enable them for doing the commanded duty, and 



420 



DIRECTIONS FOR FAMILY-WORSHIP. 



to apply the offered comfort. In all which the master of the family is to 
have the chief hand ; and any member of the family may propone a ques- 
tion or doubt for resolution. 

IV. The head of the family is to take care that none of the family 
withdraw himself from any part of family-worship : and, seeing the ordi- 
nary performance of all the parts of family-worship belongeth properly to 
thehead of the family, the minister is to stir up such as are lazy, and 
train up such as are weak, to a fitness to these exercises ; it being always 
free to persons of quality to entertain one approved by the presbytery for 
performing family-exercise. And in other families, where the head of the 
family is unfit, that another, constantly residing in the family, approved 
by the minister and session, may be employed in that service, wherein the 
minister and session are to be countable to the presbytery. And if a 
minister, by divine Providence, be brought to any family, it is requisite 
that at no time he convene a part of the family for worship, secluding the 
rest, except in singular cases especially concerning these parties, which 
(in Christian prudence) need not, or ought not, to be imparted to others. 

V. Let no idler, who hath no particular calling, or vagrant person 
under pretence of a calling, be suffered to perform worship in families, to 
or for the same ; seeing persons tainted with errors, or aiming at division, 
may be ready (after that manner) to creep into houses, and lead captive 
silly and unstable souls. 

VI. At family-worship, a special care is to be had that each family keep 
by themselves; neither requiring, inviting, nor admitting persons from 
divers families, unless it be those who are lodged with them, or at meals, 
or otherwise with them upon some lawful occasion. 

VII. Whatsoever have been the effects and fruits of meetings of per- 
sons of divers families in the times of corruption or trouble, (in which 
cases many things are commendable, which otherwise are not tolerable,) 
yet, when God hath blessed us with peace and purity of the gospel, such 
meetings of persons of divers families (except in cases mentioned in these 
Directions) are to be disapproved, as tending to the hinderance of the re- 
ligious exercise of each family by itself, to the prejudice of the publick 
ministry, to the rending of the families of particular congregations, and 
(in progress of time) of the whole kirk. Besides many offences which 
may come thereby, to the hardening of the hearts of carnal men, and 
grief of the godly. 

VIII. On the Lord's day, after every one of the family apart, and the 
whole family together, have sought the Lord (in whose hands the prepa- 
ration of men's hearts are) to fit them for the publick worship, and to 
bless to them the publick ordinances, the master of the family ought to 
take care that all within his charge repair to the publick worship, that he 
and they may join with the rest of the congregation : and the publick 
worship being finished, after prayer, he should take an account what they 
have heard ; and thereafter, to spend the rest of the time which they rnay 
spare in catechising, and in spiritual conferences upon the word of God : 
or else (going apart) they ought to apply themselves to reading, meditation, 
and secret prayer, that they may confirm and increase their communion 
with God: that so the profit which they found in the publick ordinances 
may be cherished and promoved, and they more edified unto eternal life. 

IX. So many as can conceive prayer, ought to make use of that gift of 
God ; albeit those who are rude and weaker may begin at a set form of 
prayer, but so as they be not sluggish in stirring up in themselves (accord- 



DIRECTIONS FOR FAMILY- WORSHIP. 



421 



ing to their daily necessities) the spirit of prayer, which is given to all the 
children of God in some measure : to which effect, they ought to be more 
fervent and frequent in secret prayer to God, for enabling of their hearts 
to conceive, and their tongues to express, convenient desires to God for 
their family. And, in the meantime, for their greater encouragement, let 
these materials of prayer be meditated upon, and made use of, as followeth. 

" Let them confess to God how unworthy they are to come in his pre- 
" sence, and how unfit to worship his Majesty; and therefore earnestly ask 
" of God the spirit of prayer. 

" They are to confess their sins, and the sins of the family ; accusing, 
" judging, and condemning themselves for them, till they bring their souls 
" to some measure of true humiliation. 

" They are to pour out their souls to God, in the name of Christ, by 
" the Spirit, for forgiveness of sins ; for grace to repent, to believe, and 
" to live soberly, righteously, and godly ; and that they may serve God 
" with joy and delight, walking before him. 

" They are to give thanks to God for his many mercies to his people, 
" and to themselves, and especially for his love in Christ, and for the light 
" of the gospel. 

" They are to pray for such particular benefits, spiritual and temporal, as 
" they stand in need of for the time, (whether it be morning or evening,) 
" as anent health or sickness, prosperity or adversity. 

" They ought to pray for the kirk of Christ in general, for all the re- 
" formed kirks, and for this kirk in particular, and for all that suffer for 
" the name of Christ ; for all our superiors, the king's majesty, the queen, 
" and their children ; for the magistrates, ministers, and whole body of 
" the congregation whereof they are members, as well for their neigh- 
" bours absent in their lawful affairs, as for those that are at home. 

" The prayer may be closed with an earnest desire that God may be 
" glorified in the coming of the kingdom of his Son, and in doing of his * 
" will, and with assurance that themselves are accepted, and what they 
" have asked according to his will shall be done." 

X. These exercises ought to be performed in great sincerity, without 
delay, laying aside all exercises of worldly business or hinderances, not- 
withstanding the mockings of atheists and profane men ; in respect of the 
great mercies of God to this land, and of his severe corrections wherewith 
lately he hath exercised us. And, to this effect, persons of eminency 
(and all elders of the kirk) not only ought to stir up themselves and fami- 
lies to diligence herein, but also to concur effectually, that in all other 
families, where they have power and charge, the said exercises be con- 
scionably performed. 

XI. Besides the ordinary duties in families, which are above mentioned, 
extraordinary duties, both of humiliation and thanksgiving, are to be 
carefully performed in families, when the Lord, by extraordinary occa- 
sions, (private or publick,) calleth for them. 

XII. Seeing the word of God requireth that we should consider one 
another, to provoke unto love and good works ; therefore, at all times, and 
specially in this time, wherein profanity abounds, and mockers, walking 
after their own lusts, think it strange that others run not with them to 
the same excess of riot ; every member of this kirk ought to stir up them- 
selves, and one another, to the duties of mutual edification, by instruction, 
admonition, rebuke ; exhorting one another to manifest the grace of God 
in denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and in living godly, soberly, 



422 



DIRECTIONS FOR FAMILY-WORSHIP. 



and righteously in this present world ; by comforting the feeble-minded, 
and praying with or for one another. Which duties respectively are to be 
performed upon special occasions offered by Divine Providence ; as, namely, 
when under any calamity, cross, or great difficulty, counsel or comfort 
is sought ; or when an offender is to be reclaimed by private admonition, 
and if that be not effectual, by joining one or two more in the admonition, 
according to the rule of Christ, that in the mouth of two or three wit- 
nesses every word may be established. 

XIII. And, because it is not given to every one to speak a word in 
season to a wearied or distressed conscience, it is expedient, that a person 
(in that case,) finding no ease, after the use of all ordinary means, private 
and publick, have their address to their own pastor, or some experienced 
Christian : but if the person troubled in conscience be of that condition, 
or of that sex, that discretion, modesty, or fear of scandal, requireth a 
godly, grave, and secret friend to be present with them in their said address, 
it is expedient that such a friend be present. 

XIY. When persons of divers families are brought together by Divine 
Providence, being abroad upon their particular vocations, or any neces- 
sary occasions ; as they would have the Lord their God with them whither- 
soever they go, they ought to walk with Grod, and not neglect the duties 
of prayer and thanksgiving, but take care that the same be performed by 
such as the company shall judge fittest. And that they likewise take heed 
that no corrupt communication proceed out of their mouths, but that 
which is good, to the use of edifying, that ifc may minister grace to the 
hearers. 

The drift and scope of all these Directions is no other, but that, upon 
the one part, the power and practice of godliness, amongst all the minis- 
ters and members of this kirk, according to their several places and voca- 
tions, may be cherished and advanced, and all impiety and mocking of 
religious exercises suppressed : and, upon the other part, that, under the 
name and pretext of religious exercises, no such meetings or practices be 
allowed, as are apt to breed error, scandal, schism, contempt, or misregard 
of the publick ordinances and ministers, or neglect of the duties of parti- 
cular callings, or such other evils as are the works, not of the Spirit, but 
of the flesh, and are contrary to truth and peace. 

A. KER. 



A TABLE 



THE CHIEF MATTERS CONTAINED IN THE CONFESSION 
OF FAITH AND LARGER CATECHISM. 



Con. signifies the Confession of Faith. The first number denotes the Chapter, the fol- 
lowing figures denote the Paragraphs. 

Cat. signifies the Larger Catechism, and the figures denote the numbers of the Questions. 



ACCEPTANCE. The persons of be- 
lievers are accepted as righteous in 
the sight of God only for the obedience 
and satisfaction of Christ, con. xi. 1. 
cat. 70. Which is imputed to them by 
God, and received by faith, con. xi. 1. 
cat. 70, 71, 72. How their good works 
are accepted in Christ, con. xvi. 6. Ac- 
ceptance in prayer through Christ and 
his mediation, cat. 180. 
Access. No access unto the presence of 
God without the Mediator Jesus Christ, 
con. xii. cat. 39, 55, 181. Who hath 
purchased for believers under the gos- 
pel a greater boldness of access to the 
throne of grace, than believers under 
the law did ordinarily partake of, con. 
xx. 1. 

Actions. God orders and governs all the 
actions of his creatures by his most 
wise and holy providence, according to 
his infallible foreknowledge and immu- 
table decree, con. v. 1. cat. 18. See 
Providence. 

Actual sins proceed from the original cor- 
ruption of nature, con. vi. 4. cat. 25. 
See Sin. 

Admonition of the church, con. xxx. 4. 

Adoption, the nature and privileges of it, 
con. xii. cat. 74. 

Adultery, a just ground of divorce, con. 
xxiv. 5, 6. 

Aggravations of sin, cat. 151. 

Amen, the meaning of it, cat. 196. 

Angels, God's decree concerning them, 
con. iii. 3, 4. cat. 13. How created, cat. 
16. God's providence towards them, 
cat. 19. They are all employed at his 
pleasure in the administrations of his 



power, mercy, and justice, ib. Not to 
be worshipped, con. xxi. 2. cat. 105. 

Antichrist, what, con. xxv. 6. The Pope 
is Antichrist, ib. 

Antiquity, no pretence for using the de- 
vices of men in the worship of God, 
cat. 109. 

Anxiety about the things of this life sin- 
ful, cat. 105, 136, 142. 

Apocrypha, the, not being of divine in- 
spiration, is of no authority in the 
church, con. i. 3. 

Apparel, immodest, forbidden, cat. 139. 

Ascension of Christ, con. viii. 4. cat. 53. 

Assembly. See Councils. 

Assemblies, publick, for the worship of God 
not to be carelessly or wilfully neglected, 
con. xxi. 6. 

Assurance of grace and salvation attain- 
able in this life, con. xviii. 1, 2. cat. 80. 
Without extraordinary revelation, con. 
xviii. 3. cat. 80. Upon what it is 
founded, con. iii. 8. xviii. 2. cat. 80. It 
is strengthened by good works, con. 
xvi. 2. Believers may want it, con. 
xviii. 3. cat. 80, 172. They may have it 
diminished and intermitted ; and be 
deprived of comfort, and the light of 
God's countenance, con. xi. 5. xvii. 3. 
xviii. 4. cat. 81. But they are never 
utterly destitute of that seed of God, 
and life of faith and love, etc., out of 
which assurance may, by the Spirit, be 
in due time revived, con. xviii. 4. cat. 
81. And by which, in the mean time, 
they are supported from utter despair, 
ib. It is the duty of all to endeavour 
after assurance, con. xviii. 3. And to 
pray for it, cat. 194. The fruits of it ; 
it inclines not to looseness, con. xviii. 3. 



424 



THE TABLE. 



Atheism, the denying or not having a God, 
cat. 105. 

Attributes of God, con. ii. 1, 2. cat. 7, 8, 
101. 

B 

Baptism, what, con. xxviii. 1, 2. cat. 165. 
To continue to the end of the world, 
con. xxviii. 1. cat. 176. But once to be 
administered to any person, con. xxviii. 
7. cat. 177. By whom, con. xxvii. 4. 
xxviii. 2. cat. 176. To whom, con. 
xxviii. 4. cat. 166. Dipping not neces- 
sary in baptism : But it may be rightly 
administered by sprinkling, con. xxviii. 

3. Baptism not necessary to salvation, 
yet it is a sin to neglect it, con. xxviii. 
5. The efficacy of it, con. xxviii. 6. 
How to be improved, cat. 167. Wherein 
it agrees with the Lord's supper, cat. 
176. And wherein they differ, cat. 
177. 

Believers. See Faith, Justification, Accept- 
ance, Adoption, Sanctification, Union, 
Communion, Liberty, Works, Persever- 
ance, Assurance. 

Benefits which the members of the in- 
visible church enjoy by Christ, cat. 65. 
The benefits of Christ's mediation, cat. 
57, 58. 

Body, the, of Christ, how present in the 
sacrament, con. xxix. 7. cat. 170. 

Body, the mystical, of Christ. True be- 
lievers are members of Christ's mysti- 
cal body, con. xxix. 1. cat. 168. Which 
is the whole number of the elect that 
have been, are, or shall be united to 
Christ as their head, con. xxv. 1. 
What that union is, cat. 66. See Com- 
munion. 

Bodies, the, of the elect after death, and at 
the resurrection, con. xxxii. 2, 3. cat. 86, 
87. Of the wicked, ib. 

Books, lascivious, not to be read, cat. 139. 

C 

Calling. See Effectual Calling. To have 
a lawful calling, and to be diligent in it, 
is a duty, cat. 141. 

Celibacy, vows of, unlawful, con. xxii. 7. 
cat. 139. 

Censures of the church, what, con. xxx. 2, 

4. Their use, con. xxx. 3. Who are to 
be proceeded against by the censures of 
the church, con. xx. 4. xxix. 8. xxx. 2. 
They are to be managed according to 
the nature of the crime, and the de- 
merit of the person, con. xxx. 4. Peni- 
tent sinners are to be absolved from 
censures, con. xxx. 2. 

Censuring. Rash, harsh, and partial cen- 
suring sinful, cat. 145. 
Ceremonial law. See Law. 



Charity towards our neighbour, wherein it 
consists, cat. 135, 141, 144, 147. What 
contrary to it, cat. 136, 142, 145, 148. 
Giving and lending freely according to 
our ability, and the necessities of others, 
is a duty, con. xxvi. 2. cat. 141. 

Charms unlawful, cat. 113. 

Chastity, cat. 138. 

Children that die in infancy, how saved, 
con. x. 3. The children of such as pro- 
fess the true religion are members of 
the visible church, con. xxv. 2. cat. 62. 
And are to be baptized, con. xxviii. 4. 
cat. 166. 

Christ, why so called, cat. 42. Is the 
only Mediator between God and man, 
con. viii. 1. cat. 36. Who being very 
God, of one substance, and equal with 
the Father, con. viii. 2. cat. 11, 36. 
In the fulness of time became man, con. 
viii. 2. cat. 36, 37. The necessity of 
his being God and man, cat. 38, 39, 40. 
He was ordained by God from eternity 
to be Mediator, con. viii. 1. He was 
sanctified and anointed with the Holy 
Spirit to execute the office of Mediator, 
con. viii. 3. cat. 42. To which he was 
called by the Father, con. viii. 3. And 
willingly undertook and discharged it, 
con. iv. 8. By his perfect obedience 
and sacrifice of himself, he purchased 
reconciliation and eternal life for all the 
elect, con. viii. 5. cat. 38. To whom, 
in all ages, the benefits of his media- 
tion are effectually applied, con. viii. 
6, 8. Christ's offices of prophet, priest, 
king, cat. 43, 44, 45. See Acceptance, 
Access, Body of Christ, Church, Death 
of Christ, Exaltation, Expiation, Humilia- 
tion, Imputation, Intercession, Judge, Merit, 
Messiah, Name of Christ, Personal Union, 
Propitiation, Reconciliation, Redemption, 
Resurrection, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Sal- 
vation, Satisfaction, Surety. 

Christian liberty. See Liberty. 

Church, the, is the object of God's special 
providence, con. v. 7. cat. 63. Christ 
the only head of it, con. viii. 1 . xxv. 6. 
The catholick church invisible, what, 
con. xxv. 1. cat. 64. Given to Christ 
from all eternity, con. viii. 1 . The be- 
nefits which the members of it enjoy 
by Christ, cat. 65, 66, 69, 82, 83, 86, 
90. The catholick church visible, what, 
con. xxv. 2. cat 62. Out of it no ordi- 
nary possibility of salvation, con. xxv. 
2. Its privileges, con. xxv. 3. cat. 63. 
Particular churches more or less pure, 
con. xxv. 4. The purest subject to mix- 
ture and error, con. xxv. 5. Theie 
shall always be a church on earth to 
worship God according to his will, ib. 



THE TABLE. 



425 



Church-censures. See Censures. 

Church- government appointed by the 
Lord Jesus in the hand of church- 
officers, distinct from the civil magis- 
trate, con. xxx. 1. cat. 45, 108. But 
they are not exempted from obedience 
to the magistrate, con. xxiii. 4. They 
have the power of the keys committed 
to them, con. xxx. 2. What that power 
is, and its use, con. xxx. 2, 3, 4. They 
are not to be opposed in the lawful ex- 
ercise of their powers upon pretence of 
Christian liberty, con. xx. 4. See Coun- 
cils. There are some circumstances con- 
cerning church-government, which are 
to be ordered by the light of nature 
and Christian prudence, according to 
the general rules of the word, con. i. 6. 

Circumcision, one of the ordinances by 
which the covenant of grace was ad- 
ministered unto the law, con. vii. 5. cat. 
34. 

Civil magistrate, or civil powers. See 
Magistrate. 

Commandments, the Ten, are the sum of 
the moral law, con. xix. 2. cat. 98. 
They are a perfect rule of righteousness, 
con. xix. 2. Rules for understanding 
them, cat. 99. The preface explained, 
cat. 101. The first Commandment, cat. 
103-106. The second, cat. 107-110. 
The third, cat. 111-114. The fourth, 
cat. 115-121. The fifth, cat. 123-133. 
The sixth, cat. 134-136. The seventh, 
cat. 137-139. The eighth, cat. 140- 
142. The ninth, cat. 143-145. The 
tenth, cat. 146-148. The sum of the 
first four commandments, which contain 
our duty to God, cat. 1 02. The sum of 
the other six which contain our duty to 
man, cat. 122. No man is able to keep 
the commandments of God perfectly, cat. 
149. 

Communion, the. See The Lord's Supper. 

Communion of Saints, wherein it consists, 
con. xxvi. 1, 2. The enjoyment of it is 
one of the privileges of the visible 
church, cat. 63. In the Lord's supper 
communicants testify their mutual love 
and fellowship each with other, cat. 1 68. 
That sacrament being a bond and pledge 
of believers' communion with Christ, 
and with each other, as members of his 
mystical body, con. xxix. 1. The com- 
munion of saints doth not infringe a 
man's property in his goods and posses- 
sions, con. xxvi. 3. 

Communion which the elect have with 
Christ, con. xxvi. 1. In this life, cat. 
69, 83. Immediately after death, cat. 
86. At the resurrection and day of 
judgment, cat. 87, 90. It is a conse- 



quence of their union with him, con. 
xxvi. 1. It doth not make them par- 
takers of his Godhead, nor equal with 
him, con. xxvi. 3. It is confirmed in 
the Lord's supper, cat. 168. 

Company, unchaste, not to be kept, cat. 
139. Nor corrupt communications to be 
used or listened to, ib. 

Condition. Perfect, personal, and per- 
petual obedience, the condition of the 
covenant of works, con. vii. 2. xix. 1. 
cat. 20. God requires faith as the con- 
dition to interest sinners in the Medi- 
ator of the covenant of grace, cat. 32. 

Confession of sin always to be made in 
private to God, con. xv. 6. And is 
to be joined with prayer, cat. 178. 
When to be made to men, con. xv. 6. 
Upon confession the offending brother 
is to be received in love, ib. 

Conscience. See Liberty of Conscience. Peace 
of conscience a fruit of the sense of 
God's love, con. xviii. 1, 3. cat. 83. Be- 
lievers may fall into sins which wound 
the conscience, con. xvii. 3. xviii. 4. The 
wicked are punished with horror of con- 
science, cat. 28, 83. 

Contentment. Submission to God is our 
duty, cat. 104. Discontent at his dis- 
pensations is sinful, cat. 105. A full 
contentment with our condition is our 
duty, cat. 147. Discontentment with 
our own estate a sin, cat. 148. 

Controversies. It belongs to synods and 
councils ministerially to determine con- 
troversies of faith, and cases of con- 
science, con. xxxi. 3. The Spirit speak- 
ing in the scriptures is the supreme 
judge of all controversies in religion, 
con. i. 10. The original text of the 
scriptures is that to which the church 
is finally to appeal, con. i. 8. 

Conversation, our, ought to be in holiness 
and righteousness, answerable to an 
holy profession, cat. 112, 167. 

Corruption of nature, what, con. vi. 2, 4. 
cat. 25. A consequence of the fall of 
man, ib. Actual sin a fruit of it, con. 
vi. 4. cat. 25. How it is propagated, 
con. vi. 3. cat. 26. It doth remain 
during this life in the regenerate, and 
all its motions are truly sin, con. vi. 5. 
xiii. 2. cat. 78. But it is pardoned and 
mortified through Christ, con. vi. 5. 

Covenant. No enjoying of God but by 
way of covenant, con. vii. 1. 

Covenant of works, what, and with whom 
made, con. iv. 2. vii. 2. xix. 1. cat. 20, 
22. Perfect, personal, and perpetual 
obedience, the condition of it, con. vii. 
2. xix. 1. cat. 20. It is called a 
law, and a command, con. iv. 2. and a 



426 



THE TABLE. 



law given as a covenant, con. xix. 1. and 
a covenant of life, of which the tree of 
life was a pledge, cat. 20. 

Covenant of grace, what, con. vii. 3. cat. 
30, 32. It was made with Christ as 
the second Adam, and with all the elect 
in him, as his seed, cat. 31. In it God 
requireth of sinners faith in Christ, 
that they may be justified and saved, 
con. vii. 3. cat. 71. Faith being required 
as the condition to interest them in 
Christ, cat. 32. Who is the Mediator of 
this covenant, con. viii. 1. cat. 36. Why 
it is called a testament, con. vii. 4. It 
was differently administered in the time 
of the law, and in the time of the gos- 
pel, con. vii. 5. cat. 33. How it was ad- 
ministered under the law, con. vii. 5. 
cat. 34. How under the gospel, con. 
vii. 6. cat. 35. 

Councils or Synods ought to be, con. xxxi. 
1. They may be called by the civil 
magistrate, con. xxiii. 3. xxxi. 2. When 
ministers may meet without the call of 
the civil magistrate, con. xxxi. 2. What 
power councils have, con. xxxi. 3. What 
submission due to their decrees, ib. Not 
infallible since the apostles' time, con. 

xxxi. 4. But their determinations are 
to be tried by the scriptures, con. i. 10. 
How far they may meddle in civil affairs, 
con. xxxi. 5. 

Creation of the world, con. iv. 1. cat. 15. 
Of man, con. iv. 2. cat. 17. Of angels, 
cat. 16. 

Creatures. Dominion over the creatures 
given to man, con. iv. 2. cat. 17. They 
are cursed for our sakes since the fall, 
cat. 28. Religious worship to be given 
to no creature, con. xxi. 2. cat. 105. 

Curiosity. Bold and curious searching 
into God's secrets discharged, cat. 105. 
Curious prying into God's decrees for- 
bidden, cat. 113. Curious or unprofit- 
able questions are to be avoided, ib. 

Curse, the, and wrath of God, man liable 
to it, both by original and actual sin, 
con. vi. 6. cat. 27. How it may be 
escaped, con. vii. 3. cat. 153. 

Cursing sinful, cat. 113. 

D 

Dancing. Lascivious dancing forbidden, 
cat. 139. 

Dead not to be prayed for, con. xxi. 4. cat. 
183. 

Death, being the wages of sin, con. vi. 6. 
cat. 28, 84. It is appointed for all men, 
cat. 84. How it is an advantage to the 
righteous, cat. 85. The state of be- 
lievers immediately after death, con. 

xxxii. 1. cat, 86. of the wicked, ib. 



Death, the, of Christ, con. viii. 4. cat. 49. 
In it he saw no corruption, con. viii. 4. 
cat. 52. The divine nature having sus- 
tained the human from sinking under 
the power of death, cat. 38. By his obe- 
dience and death, he made a proper, real, 
and full satisfaction to the justice of 
the Father, con. xi. 3. cat. 71. Through 
the virtue of his death and resurrec- 
tion, believers are sanctified, con. xiii. 1. 
Believers have fellowship with Christ 
in his death, con. xxvi. 1. And from 
his death and resurrection they draw 
strength for the mortifying of sin, and 
quickening of grace, cat. 167. The 
Lord's supper is a memorial of his death, 
con. xxix. 1. cat. 168. And in that 
sacrament worthy communicants medi- 
tate affectionately on his death and suf- 
ferings, cat. 174. And receive and feed 
upon all the benefits of his death, con. 
xxix. 7. 

Decalogue, the. See Commandments. 

Decrees, the, of God, the nature, end, ex- 
tent, and properties of them, con. iii. 1, 
2, cat. 12. The decree of predestina- 
tion, con. iii. 3, 4. Of election and re- 
probation, con. iii. 5, 6, 7. cat. 13. How 
God executeth his decrees, cat. 14. How 
the doctrine of decrees is to be handled, 
and what use to be made of them, con. 
iii. 8. Curious prying into God's de- 
crees forbidden, cat. 113. 

Desertion. Wilful desertion unlawful, cat. 
139. Such as cannot be remedied by 
the church or civil magistrate, is cause 
sufficient of dissolving the bond of mar- 
riage, con. xxiv. 6. 

Despair sinful, cat. 105. Believers al- 
ways supported from utter despair, con. 
xviii. 4. cat. 81. 

DeviL all compacts and consulting with 
him sinful, cat. 105. 

Diligence in our calling a duty, cat. 141. 

Dipping in baptism not necessary, con. 
xxviii. 3. 

Discontent at the dispensations of God's 
providence sinful, cat. 105, 113. Dis- 
contentment with our own estate sinful, 
cat. 148. 

Divorce, lawful in case of adultery after 
marriage, or of such wilful desertion a3 
cannot be remedied, con. xxiv. 5, 6. A 
publick and orderly course of proceed- 
ing is to be observed in it, con. xxiv. 6. 

Dominion. See Sovereignty, Creatures, Sin. 

Doubting of being in Christ, may consist 
with a true interest in him, con. xvii. 3. 
xviii. 4. cat. 81, 172. And therefore 
should not hinder from partaking of the 
Lord's supper, cat. 172. 

Drunkenness forbidden, cat. 139. 



THE TABLE. 



427 



Duty to God by the light of nature, con. 
xxi. 1. Duties required in the first 
commandment, cat. 104. In the second, 
cat. 108. In the third, cat. 112. In the 
fourth, cat. 116. Duties of inferiors to 
their superiors, con. xxiii. 4. cat. 127. 
What is required of superiors, con. 
xxiii. 2. cat. 129. Duties of equals, 
cat. 131. Duties of the sixth command- 
ment, cat. 1 35. Of the seventh, cat 1 38. 
Of the eighth, cat. 141. Of the ninth, 
cat. 144. Of the tenth, cat. 147. 

E 

Ecclesiastical powers not to be opposed 
upon pretence of Christian liberty, con. 
xx. 4. Ecclesiastical persons not ex- 
empted from obedience to the civil 
magistrate, con. xxiii. 4. 

Effectual calling, what, con. x. 1. cat. 67. 
It is of God's free grace, not from any 
thing foreseen in man, con. x. 2. cat. 67. 
All the elect, and they only, are effec- 
tually called, con. x. 1,4. cat. 68. The 
elect united to Christ in their effectual 
calling, cat. 66. 

Election, out of God's mere free grace, 
con. iii. 5. cat. 13. From all eternity 
in Christ, ib. Election not only to eter- 
nal life and glory, but also to the means 
thereof, con. iii. 6. cat. 13. All the 
elect, and they only, are effectually 
called and saved, con. iii. 6. x. 1, 4. cat. 
68. Though others may be outwardly 
called by the word, and have some com- 
mon operations of the Spirit, ib. Elect 
infants, and other elect persons who are 
incapable of being called by the word, 
how saved, con. x. 3. What use to be 
made of the doctrine of election, con. iv. 
8. And how men may be assured of 
their eternal election, ib. See A ssurance. 

Envy sinful, cat. 128, 136, 142, 145, 148. 

Equals, their duties and sins, cat. 131, 132. 

Equivocation. Speaking the truth in 
doubtful and equivocal expressions, to 
the prejudice of truth or justice, sinful, 
cat. 145. 

Eucharist. See Lord's Supper. 

Exaltation of Christ, con. viii. 4. cat. 61. 
In his resurrection, cat. 62. In his 
ascension, cat. 53. In his sitting at the 
right hand of God, cat. 54. In his 
coming to judge the world, cat. 56. 

Self-examination, cat. 171. 

Excommunication, con. xxx. 2, 3, 4. 

Expiation. Sin cannot be expiated but 
by the blood of Christ, cat. 152. 

F 

Faith, what, con. xiv. 2. cat. 72. God re- 
quireth nothing of sinners that they 



may be justified, but faith in Christ, 
con. xi. 1. cat. 71, Which he requireth 
as the condition to interest them in the 
Mediator of the covenant of grace, cat. 
32. It justifies a sinner in the sight of 
God only as it is an instrument by 
which he receiveth Christ and his right- 
eousness, con. xi. 2. cat. 73 Faith is 
the gift of God, con. xi. 1. cat. 71 It 
being the work of the Spirit, con. xiv. 
1. cat. 59, 72. It is ordinarily wrought 
by the ministry of the word, con. xiv. 

1. Increased and strengthened by the 
word, sacraments, and prayer, ib. Often 
weakened, but always gets the victory, 
con. xiv. 3. Growing up in many to a 
full assurance, con. xiv. 3. cat. 80. Good 
works the fruit and evidence of true 
faith, con. xvi. 2. cat. 52. Which is 
never alone, but always accompanied 
with all other saving graces, and is no 
dead faith, but worketh by love, con. xi. 

2. cat. 73. 

Fall of man, the nature and effects of it, 
con. vi. cat. 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29. Why 
permitted, con. vi. 1. How all mankind 
concerned in it, con. vi. 3. cat. 22. 

Falling away. See Perseverance. 

Family worship daily, required of God, 
con. xxi. 6. 

Fasting. Religious fasting a duty, cat. 
108. Solemn fasting a part of religious 
worship, con. xxi. 5. 

Fellowship. See Communion. 

Foreknowledge. All things come to pass 
infallibly according to the foreknow- 
ledge of God, con. v. 2. 

Forgiveness. See Pardon. 

Fornication committed after contract of 
marriage, a just ground of dissolving 
the contract, con. xxiv. 5. 

Fortune. To ascribe any thing to fortune 
is sinful, cat. 105. 

Free-will. See Will. 

Frugality a duty, cat. 141. 

G 

Gaming. Wasteful gaming forbidden, cat, 
142. 

Glory. The communion in glory with 
Christ, which believers enjoy in this 
life, con. xviii. 1, 2, 3. cat. 83. Imme- 
diately after death, con. xxxii. 1. cat. 86. 
At the resurrection and day of judg- 
ment, con. xxxii. 3. xxxiii. 2. cat. 87, 90. 

Glory, the, of God the end of his decrees, 
con. iii. 3. cat. 12. The glory of his 
grace the end of election, con. iii. 5. cat. 
13. The glory of his justice the end of 
the decree of reprobation, con. iii. 7. cat. 
13. The glory of his eternal power, 
wisdom, and goodness, the end of the 



428 



THE TABLE. 



creation, con. iv. 1. The manifestation 
of the glory of his wisdom, power, jus- 
tice, goodness, and mercy, is the end of 
all God's works of providence, con. v. 1. 
cat. 18. The end of God's appointing 
the last judgment is the manifestation 
of the glory of his mercy and justice, 
con. xxxii. 10. To glorify God is the 
chief end of man, cat 1. God is glori- 
fied by good works, con. xvi. 2. 

Gluttony a sin, cat. 139. 

God. The light of nature sheweth that 
there is a God, con. xxi. 1. cat. 2. What 
it declares concerning him, and of our 
duty to him, con. i. 1. xxi. 1. It is not 
sufficient to give that knowledge of God, 
and of his will, which is necessary unto 
salvation, con. i. 1. cat. 2. The attri- 
butes or perfections of God, con. ii. 1, 
2. cat. 7, 101. There is but one only 
God, con. ii. 1. cat. 8. There are three 
persons in the Godhead, distinguished 
by personal properties, con. ii. 3. cat. 9, 
10. The co-equality of the persons 
proved, cat. 11. To him is due from all 
his creatures, whatsoever worship, ser- 
vice, or obedience, he is pleased to re- 
quire, con. ii. 2. Our duty to God, cat. 
104, 108, 112, 116. What contrary to 
it, cat. 105, 109, 113, 119. Keligious 
worship is to be given to God the Fa- 
ther, Son, and Holy Ghost, and to him 
alone ; and that only in the meditation 
of Christ, con. xxi. 2. cat. 179, 181. God 
is to be worshipped in that way only 
which he hath instituted in the scrip- 
tures, con. xxi. 1. cat. 109. To glorify 
God, and fully to enjoy him for ever, is 
the chief end of man, cat. 1. 

Good works. See Works. 

Gospel. How the covenant of grace is ad- 
ministered under the gospel, con. vii. 6. 
cat. 35. Without the gospel no salva- 
tion, con. x. 4. cat. 60. In it Christ 
doth not dissolve but strengthen the 
obligation to the obedience of the moral 
law, con. xix. 5. Believers under the 
gospel have a greater boldness of access 
to the throne of grace, than believers 
under the law did ordinarily partake 
of, con. xx. 1. 

Government. See Church, Magistrate. 

Grace, the, of God. Election is of God's 
mere free grace, con. iii. 5. cat. 13. How 
the grace of God is manifested in the 
second covenant, con. vii. 3. cat. 32. 
Effectual calling is of God's free and 
special grace, con. x. 2. cat. 67. Justi- 
fication is only of free grace, con. xi. 3. 
cat. 70, 71 Adoption is an act of free 
grace, con. xii. cat. 74. The communion 
in grace which believers have with 



Christ, cat. 69. All saving graces are 
the work of the Spirit, con. xiii. xiv. xv. 
cat. 32, 72, 75, 76, 77. And do always 
accompany faith, con. xi. 2. cat. 73. 
Perseverance in grace, con. xvii. cat. 79. 
Increase in grace, con. xiii. 1, 3. cat. 75, 
77. Assurance of grace, con. xviii. cat. 
80, 81. 

H 

Hakden. Why and how sinners are har- 
dened, con. v. 6. Believers may have 
their hearts hardened, con. xvii. 3. 

Head. The elect are inseparably united 
to Christ as their head, con. xxv. 1. 
xxvi. 1. cat. 64, 66. He is the only 
head of the church, con. xxv. 67 

Hearing. What is required of those that 
hear the word preached, con. xxi. 5. cat. 
160. 

Heaven, the state of the blessed, con. xxxii. 

1. xxxiii. 2. cat. 86, 90. 
Hell, the state of the damned, con. xxxii. 

1. xxxiii. 2. cat. 29, 86, 89. The mean- 
ing of these words in the Creed, He de- 
scended into hell, cat. 50. 

Hereticks to be rejected, cat. 105. 
Holiness. God is most holy in all his 
counsels, works, and commands, con. ii. 

2. Man was created holy after the 
image of God, con. iv. 2. cat. 17. But 
by the fall he became wholly defiled, 
con. vi 2. Believers are, by the sanc- 
tifying Spirit of Christ, quickened and 
strengthened to the practice of holiness, 
con. xiii. 1, 3. cat. 75. And are made 
perfectly holy in heaven, con. xxxii. 1. 
cat. 86, 90. See Sanctification. 

Holy Ghost, the, equal with the Father, 
con. ii. 3. cat. 11. He is promised to 
the elect in the covenant of grace, con. 
vii. 3. cat. 32. By him they are united 
to Christ, con. xxvi. 1. For by him the 
redemption purchased by Christ is ap- 
plied to them, con. viii. 8. xi. 4. cat. 58, 
59. By him they are effectually called, 
con. x. 1. cat. 67. And have faith 
wrought in their hearts, con. xiv. 1. cat. 
59, 72. He is given to them in adop- 
tion, con. xii. cat. 74. And applying 
the death and resurrection of Christ to 
them, by his powerful operation, they 
are sanctified, con. xiii. 1. cat. 75. Hav- 
ing repentance wrought, and all other 
saving graces infused into their hearts, 
con. xiii. 1. cat. 32, 75, 76, 77. Through 
the continual supply of strength from 
him, believers grow in grace, con. xiii. 

3. cat. 75. The outward means are by 
him made effectual to the elect for sal- 
vation, con. vii. 5, 6. xxv. 3. cat. 155, 
161. Prayer is to be made by his help, 
con. xxi. 3. cut. 182. Ability to do good 



THE TABLE. 



429 



works is from him, con. xvi. 3. Assur- 
ance of faith is attained by his witness- 
ing with our spirits that we are the 
children of God, con. xviii. 2. cat. 80. 
By his abiding within believers, they 
are secured from falling totally away 
from the state of grace, and are kept 
by the power of God through faith unto 
salvation, con. xvii. 2. cat. 79. 

Hope of glory, con. xviii. 1. cat. 83. The 
hope of hypocrites, con. xviii. 1. 

Humiliation of Christ, con. viii. 2, 4. cat. 

46. In his conception and birth, cat. 

47. In his life, cat. 48. In his death, 
cat. 49. After death, cat. 50. 

Hypocrisy. Making profession of religion 
in hypocrisy, or for sinister ends, sinful, 
cat. 113. The hypocrite's hope, con. 
xviii. 1. 

Hypostatical. See Personal. 

I 

Idleness unlawful, cat. 139, 142. Idola- 
try, all the kinds of it forbidden, cat. 
105, 109. All monuments of idolatry 
ought to be removed, cat. 108. 

Ignorant, not to be admitted to the Lord's 
table, con. xxix. 8. cat. 173. 

Image. Man made after the image of God, 
in knowledge, righteousness, and holi- 
ness, con. iv. 2. cat. 17. This image is 
renewed by sanctification, cat. 75. And 
fully perfected in heaven, con. xxxii. 1. 
cat. 86, 90. 

Image-worship of all kinds discharged, 
cat. 109. 

Imputation. The guilt of Adam's first sin 
is imputed to all his posterity, con. vi. 
3. The obedience and satisfaction of 
Christ is imputed to believers, con. xi. 
1. cat. 70. His righteousness is imputed 
to them, cat. 71, 77. 

Incarnation of Christ,ccm.viii. 2. cat. 37,39. 

Incest discharged, cat. 139. Incestuous 
marriages, which are within the degrees 
of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in 
the scriptures, can never be made law- 
ful, con. xxiv. 4. 

Inclosures and depopulations, unjust, for- 
bidden, cat. 142. 

Increase of grace is from a continual supply 
of strength from the sanctifying Spirit 
of Christ, con. xiii. 1, 3. cat. lb, 77. 

Infants, how saved, con. x. 3. Infants of 
one or both believing parents are to be 
baptized, con. xxviii. 4. cat. 166. 

Ingrossing commodities to enhance their 
price, unlawful, cat. 142. 

Innocency. The state of man in innocency, 
con. iv. 2. cat. 17, 20. 

Inspiration. The books of the Old and 
New Testament are given by inspiration 



of God, con. i. 2. But the Apocrypha 
is not of divine inspiration, con. i. 3. 
Intercession. How Christ makes inter- 
cession, cat. 55. It is a part of his 
priestly office, cat. 44. He makes inter- 
cession, that the redemption which he 
hath purchased may be applied to all 
believers, con. viii. 8. cat. 55. And 
their perseverance depends upon his 
continual intercession for them, con. 
xvii. 2. cat. 79. 

J 

Jests. Perverting the scripture to pro- 
fane jests, sinful, cat. 113. 

Jesus, why so called, cat. 41. See Christ. 

Joy in the Holy Ghost the fruit of assur- 
ance, con. xviii. 1, 2. cat. 83. Believers, 
by falling into some sins, may grieve the 
Spirit, and be deprived of some measure 
of their comfort, con. xvii. 3. xviii. 4. 

Judge. Christ the judge of the world, 
con. viii. 1, 4. xxxiii. 1. How he shall 
come at the last day, cat. 56. 

Judgments, the, of God upon sinners in 
this world, con. v. 6. cat. 28, 83. How 
believers may bring temporal judgments 
on themselves, con. xvii. 3. God is just 
and terrible in his judgments, con. ii. 1. 

Judgment, the last, what, con. xxxiii. 1. 
Appointed for angels and men, con. viii. 

4. xxxiii. 1. cat. 88. The end of its ap- 
pointment is the manifestation of God's 
mercy and justice, con. xxxiii. 2. Christ 
shall be the judge, con. viii. 4. xxxiii. 1. 
How he shall come to judge the world, 
cat. 56. Why he would haye us cer- 
tainly persuaded of it, con. xxxiii. 3. 
Why the time of it is concealed, con. 
xxxiii. 3. cat. 88. The judgment of the 
righteous, con. xxxiii. 2. cat. 90. The 
judgment of the wicked, con. xxxiii. 2. 
cat. 89. 

Judicial law. See Law. 
Justice, the, of God fully satisfied by 
Christ's obedience and death, con. viii. 

5. xi. 3. cat. 38, 71. It is manifested 
in the works of providence, con. v. 1. 
In the justification of sinners, con. xi. 3. 
In the last judgment, con. xxxiii. 2. 

Justice in contracts and commerce between 
man and man, cat. 141, 142. 

Justification, what, con. xi. 1. cat. 70. All 
the elect, and they only, are justified, 
con. iii. 6. Whom God did from all 
eternity decree to justify, con. xi. 4. But 
they are not justified till the Holy Spirit 
doth in due time actually apply Christ 
unto them, ib. How justification is of 
God's free grace, con. xi. 3. cat. 71. 
Faith is necessarily required for justifi- 
cation, cat. 71, But it justifies a sinner 
only as it is an instrument by which he 



430 



THE TABLE. 



receiveth Clirist and his righteousness, 
con. xi. 1, 2. cat. 73. The exact justice, 
and rich grace of God, are both glorified 
in the justification of sinners, con. xi. 3. 
Justification the same under the Old 
Testament as under the New, con. xi. 6. 
It is inseparably joined with sanctifica- 
tion, cat. 77. How they differ, ib. Those 
that are justified are perfectly freed in 
this life from the revenging wrath of 
God, that they never fall into condem- 
nation, con. xvii. 1. cat. 77, 79. But 
corruption remaining in them, con. vi. 
5. xiii. 2. cat. 78. They fall into many 
sins, con. xvii. 3. cat. 78. Which God 
continues to forgive, upon their hum- 
bling themselves, confessing their sins, 
begging pardon, and renewing their 
faith and repentance, con. xi. 5. 
K 

Keys. The power of the keys, what, con. 
xxx. 2. Committed to church-officers, 
ib. The civil magistrate may not assume 
this power, con. xxiii 3. 

King. Christ the King of his church, con. 
xxx. 1. How he executeth the office of 
a king, cat. 45. What meant by the 
coming of his kingdom, cat. 191. 

Knowledge. God's knowledge is infinite, 
infallible, and independent upon the 
creature, con. ii. 2. The knowledge 
which may be had of God and of our 
duty to him by the light of nature, con. 
i. 1. xxi. 1. cat. 1. The scriptures are 
only sufficient to give that knowledge 
of God and of his will which is neces- 
sary unto salvation, ib. 

L 

Labour is to be moderately used, cat. 135, 
136. 

Land-marks not to be removed, cat. 142. 

Law. The Ceremonial Law, what, con. 
xix. 3. It is abrogated now under the 
New Testament, con. xix. 3. xx. 1. How 
the covenant of grace was administered 
under the law, con. vii. 6. viii. 6. cat. 34. 

Law, the Judicial, expired with the state 
of the Jews, con xix. 4. And obliges 
no further than the general equity of it 
requires, ib. 

Law, the Moral, what, cat. 93, Given to 
Adam with a power to fulfil it, con. iv. 2. 
xix. 1. cat. 92. The ten commandments 
the sum of it, con. xix. 2. cat. 98. Though 
believers are not under it as a covenant, 
con. xix. 6. And are not able perfectly 
to keep it, cat. 149. Yet it continues 
to be a perfect rule of righteousness, 
con. xix. 2. Binding all, as well justi- 
fied persons as others, con. xix. 5. 
Christ, in the gospel, having not abo- 



lished, but much strengthened the obli- 
gation to the obedience of it, ib. And 
although no man since the fall can, by 
the moral law, attain to righteousness 
and life, con. xix. 6. cat. 94. Which 
Christ alone hath purchased for the 
elect by his perfect obedience, con. viii. 
5. Yet it is of great use to all, con. 

xix. 6. cat. 95. The use of it to the 
regenerate, con, xix. 6. cat. 97. The use 
of it to the unregenerate, cat. 96. Not 
contrary to the grace of the gospel, but 
doth sweetly comply with it, con. xix. 7. 
The Spirit of Christ subduing and en- 
abling the will of man unto a free and 
cheerful obedience to the will of God, 
con. xix. 7. cat. 32. 

Law-suits, unnecessary, to be avoided, cat. 
141, 142. 

Liberty. Christian liberty, what, con. xx. 
1. Wherein it is enlarged under the 
gospel, ib. The end of Christian li- 
berty, con. xx. 3. Liberty to sin incon- 
sistent with it, ib. It is not intended 
to destroy ecclesiastical or civil powers, 
but to support and preserve them, con. 

xx. 4. Neither are men thereby allowed 
to publish opinions, or maintain prac- 
tices, that are contrary to the light of 
nature, or to the known principles of 
Christianity, or such as are destructive 
of the peace and order of the church, ib. 

Liberty of conscience, what it is, and what 
repugnant to it, con. xx. 2. Making 
men the lords of our faith and con- 
science unlawful, con. xx. 2. cat. 105. 

Life. Eternal life purchased by Christ's 
perfect obedience to the law, con. viii. 
5. The tree of life was a pledge of the 
covenant of works, cat. 20. The life of 
any not to be taken away except in case 
of public justice, lawful war, or neces- 
sary defence, cat. 136. 

Light of nature, what may be known of 
God and of our duty to him by it, con. 
i. 1. xxi. 1. cat. 2. It is not sufficient 
to make us wise unto salvation, con. i. 
1. x. 4*xxi. 1. cat. 2, 60. It is of the 
law of nature that a due portion of 
time be set apart for the worship of 
God, con. xxi. 7. 

Looks, wanton, sinful, cat. 139. 

Lord's Prayer. See Prayer. 

Lord's Supper. The institution, nature, 
and ends of it, con. xxix. 1. cat. 168. 
Christ not offered up to his Father, nor 
any real sacrifice for sin made in it, 
con. xxix. 2. The mass abominably 
injurious to Christ's one only sacrifice, 
ib. The outward elements in this sac- 
rament are not to be adored, con. xxix. 
4. They still remain truly bread and 



THE TABLE. 



431 



wine, con. xxix. 5. The doctrine of 
transubstantiation is repugnant not only 
to the scripture, but even to common 
sense, and has been and is the cause of 
gross idolatries, con. xxix. 6. How 
Christ hath appointed bread and wine 
to be given and received in the sacra- 
ment, con. xxix. 3, cat. 169. It is only 
to be administered by a minister of the 
word lawfully ordained, con. xxvii. 4. 
cat. 176. It is not to be received by 
any one alone, con. xxix. 4, It is to be 
received in both kinds, ib. What rela- 
tion the elements in this sacrament 
have to Christ crucified, con. xxix, 5. 
How Christ is present there, con. xxix. 
7. cat. 170. How believers feed on him 
therein, ib. What preparation is re- 
quired for receiving it, cat. 171. 
Doubting may consist with an interest 
in Christ, con. xvii. 3. xviii. 4. cat. 81. 
And therefore should not hinder from 
partaking of the Lord's supper, cat. 
172. But the ignorant and scandalous 
are not to be admitted, con. xxix. 8. 
cat. 173. What duties required in the 
time of receiving, cat. 174. What 
duties after receiving, cat. 175. Fre- 
quent attendance on it a duty, cat. 175, 
177. The agreement and difference 
between the Lord's supper and baptism, 
cat. 176, 177. 
Lots, cat. 112, 113. 

Love. Election is of God's free love, con. 
iii. 5. cat. 13. Which is unchangeable, 
con. xvii. 2. cat. 79. And therefore 
true believers can neither totally nor 
finally fall away from the state of 
grace, ib. The sense of God's love is 
attainable in this life, cat. 83. See 
Assurance. Love to God is a duty, 
cat. l04. Which the light of nature 
sheweth, con. xxi. 1. To love the Lord 
our God with all our heart, etc. is the 
sum of our duty to him, cat. 102. 
Love to God is necessary to the right 
performance of the duty of prayer, con. 
xxi. 3. cat. 185. Love to God and the 
brethren is necessary to right communi- 
cating, cat. 168, 171, 174. True be- 
lievers are never utterly destitute of 
the love of Christ and the brethren, 
con. xviii. 4. Wherein love towards 
our neighbour consists, cat. 135, 141, 
144, 147 . What contrary to it, cat. 
136, 142, 145, 148. It is the sum of 
our duty to man, cat. 122. 

Lying sinful, cat. 145. 

M 

Magistrates appointed by God, con. 
xxiii. 1. For what end, ib. Lawful 



for Christians to accept the office of a 
magistrate, con. xxiii. 2. The duty 
of the civil magistrate, con. xxiii. 2. 
cat. 129. con. xx. 4. Read the scriptures 
letter r . The sins of the magistrate, cat. 
1 30, 145. He may wage war upon just 
and necessary occasions, con. xxiii. 2. 
His power in church affairs stated, con. 

xxiii. 3. The duty of the people to- 
wards their magistrates, con. xxiii. 4. 
cat. 121. Their sins against them, cat. 
128. Ecclesiastical persons not ex- 
empted from obedience to the civil 
magistrate, con. xxiii. 4. The Pope 
hath no power or jurisdiction over magi- 
strates, or their people, ib. The magi- 
strate is not to be opposed in the law- 
ful exercise of his power, upon pretence 
of Christian liberty, con. xx. 4. Infi- 
delity or difference in religion doth not 
make void the magistrate's just and 
legal authority, con. xxiii. 4. 

Man, how created, con. iv. 2. cat. 17. His 
state before the fall, con. iv. 2. cat. 17, 
20. His fall, and the effects of it, con. 

vi. cat. 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. 
His state by the covenant of grace, con. 

vii. 3—6. cat. 30—35. Man's chief 
end, cat. 1. 

Man-stealing discharged, cat. 142. 

Marriage, the end of it, con. xxiv. 2. cat. 
20. Between more than one man and 
one woman at a time unlawful, con. 

xxiv. 1. cat. 139. Lawful for all sorts 
of people who are capable to give their 
consent, con. xxiv. 3. And who are 
without the degrees of consanguinity 
or affinity forbidden in the scriptures, 
con. xxiv. 4. But marriages within 
those degrees can never be made law- 
ful, ib. Protestants should not marry 
with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters, 
con. xxiv. 3. Nor such as are godly 
with those that are notoriously wicked, 
ib. A contract of marriage may be 
dissolved for adultery or fornication 
committed after the contract, con. xxiv. 
5. The bond of marriage can only be 
dissolved for adultery after marriage, 
and such wilful desertion as cannot be 
remedied, con. xxiv. 5, 6. Undue delay 
of marriage, prohibiting of lawful, and 
dispensing with unlawful marriages, 
are sinful, cat. 1 39. Vows of perpetual 
single life are sinful snares in which no 
Christian may entangle himself, con. 
xxii. 7. cat. 139. Those who have not 
the gift of continency ought to marry, 
cat. 138. The duties of married per- 
sons, cat. 139, 141. 

Mass, the, abominably injurious to Christ's 
one only sacrifice, con. xxix. 2. 



432 



THE TABLE. 



Means. God in his ordinary providence 
maketh use of means; yet is free to 
work without, above, and against them 
at his pleasure, con. v. 3. The outward 
and ordinary means of salvation under 
the law, con. vii. 5. cat 34. Under the 
gospel, con. viL 6. cat. 35, 154. The 
diligent use of them is required in 
order to escape the wrath of God, cat. 
153. How they are made effectual, 
con. xxv. 3, cat. 155, 161, 182. Trust- 
ing in means sinful, cat. 105. Unlaw- 
ful means not to be used, ib. 

Measures, false, unlawful, cat. 142. 

Meat to be moderately used, cat. 135, 136. 

Mediator. See Christ 

Mercy, the, of God, con. ii. 1. cat. 7. It 
is manifested in his works of provi- 
dence, con. v. 1. It is of God's free 
love and mercy that the elect are de- 
livered from sin and misery, and 
brought to an estate of salvation by 
the second covenant, cat. 30. God 
is merciful to penitent sinners in 
Christ, con. xv. 2. cat. 76. For whose 
sake mercy is to be prayed for, cat. 
180. Works of mercy are to be 
done, even on the Lord's day, con. 
xxi, 8. cat. 117. 

Merit. No merit in good works for par- 
don of sin or eternal life: and why. 
con. xvi. 5. Nor can we merit the 
outward blessings of this life, cat. 193. 
But we are to trust in the merits of 
Christ, cat. 174. Who appearing in the 
merit of his obedience and sacrifice, 
maketh intercession for his people, 
cat. 55. 

Messiah. The elect under the Old Testa- 
ment believed in the promised Messiah, 
by whom they had full remission of 
sins, and eternal salvation, con. vii. 5. 
viii. 6. cat. 34. 

Ministry, the, given by Christ to the 
visible church, con. xxv. 3. The main- 
tenance thereof a duty, cat. 108. A 
minister of the gospel is one sufficiently 
gifted, and also duly approved and law- 
fully called and ordained to that office. 
con. xxvii. 4. xxviii. 2. cat. 158. By 
such only the word is to be read pub- 
lickly and preached, and the sacraments 
dispensed, con. xxvii. 4. xxviii. 2. cat. 
156, 158, 159, 169. 

floral Law. See Law. 

.flortification. The regenerate have the 
corruption of nature mortified through 
Christ, con. vi. 5. And the several 
lusts of the body of sin, con. xiii. 1. 
Believers draw strength from the death 
and resurrection of Christ for the mor- 
tifying of sin, cat. 167. 



N 

Name, the, of Christ. That prayer be 
accepted, it is to be made in the name 
of Christ, con. xxi. 3. cat. 178. What 
it is to pray in the name of Christ, cat. 
180. Why prayer is to be made in his 
name, cat. 181. 

Name, the, of God is only that by which 
men ought to swear, and therein it is to 
be used with all holy fear and reverence, 
con. xxii. 2. How the name of God 
ought to be used, and how it is pro- 
faned, cat. 112, 113, 114, 190. 

Nature. See Corruption, Original Sin, Light 
of Nature. 

Natures, the two, of Christ. See Christ, 
Lncarnation, Personal Union. 

New Testament, the, in Greek is that to 
which the church is finally to appeal in 
controversies of religion, con. i. 8. The 
administration of the covenant of grace 
under the gospel is called the New 
Testament, con. vii. 6. 

Neighbour. See Charity, Love. 

Niggardliness sinful, cat. 142. 

O 

Oath, an, what it is, con. xxii. 1. It is a 
part of religious worship, ib. The 
name of God is that by which men 
ought only to swear, con. xxii. 2. cat. 
108. Vain or rash swearing by his 
name is to be abhorred, con. xxii. 2. 
cat. 113. Yet, in matters of weight and 
moment, an oath is warrantable under 
the New Testament, con. xxii. 2. A 
lawful oath, imposed by lawful authority, 
ought to be taken, ib. It is a sin to 
refuse it, con. xxii. 3. A man must 
swear nothing but what he is fully per- 
suaded is truth ; neither may he bind 
himself by oath to any thing but what 
he believes to be just and good, and 
what he is able to perform, ib. An 
oath is to be taken in the plain and 
common sense of the words ; and, in 
things not sinful, it binds to perform- 
ance, though to a man's own hurt, or 
made to hereticks, con. xxii. 4. cat. 113. 
But it cannot oblige to sin, ib. 

Obedience is due to God in whatsoever he 
is pleased to command, con. ii. 2. cat. 
104. Christ hath performed perfect 
obedience to the law for us in our 
nature, con. viii. 4. cat. 38, 39, 48, 97. 
And by it purchased an everlasting in- 
heritance in the kingdom of heaven for 
the elect, con. viii. 5. cat. 38. His 
obedience is imputed to believers, con. 
xi. 1. cat. 70. He hath not abolished, 
but much strengthened the obligation 
to the obedience of the moral law, con. 



THE TABLE. 



433 



xix. 5. Good works done in obedience 
to God's commands are the fruits and 
evidences of a true faith, con. xvi. 2. 
cat. 32. How the sincere though im- 
perfect obedience of believers is accepted 
and rewarded, con. xvi. 6. Obedience 
is due to the lawful commands of a 
magistrate, con. xxiii. 4. cat. 127, 128. 

Offices of Christ, of Mediator. See 3Iedia- 
tor. His prophetical office, cat. 43; 
priestly, cat. 44 ; and kingly, cat. 45. 

Old Testament, the, in Hebrew is that to 
which the church is finally to appeal in 
controversies of religion, con. i. 8. The 
administration of the covenant of grace 
under the law is called the Old Testa- 
ment, con. vii. 5. 

Ordinances, the, of God given by Christ to 
the visible church, con. xxv. 3. The 
ordinances under the law, con. vii. 5. 
cat. 34. Those under the gospel, con. 
vii. 6. cat. 35. Which are fewer, and 
administered with more simplicity, and 
less outward glory ; yet in them grace 
and salvation are held forth in more 
fulness, evidence, and efficacy, ib. All 
God's ordinances, especially the word, 
sacraments, and prayer, are the outward 
and ordinary means of salvation, cat. 
154. How they are made effectual, 
con. xxv. 3. cat. 155, 161, 182. The 
neglect, contempt, or opposing them 
sinful, cat. 109. 

Original corruption. See Corruption. 

Original sin. See Sin. 

P 

Papists. Protestants should not marry 

with Papists, con. xxiv. 3. 
Pardon. See Sin. 

Passions to be restrained, cat. 135, 136. 

Passover, one of the types and ordinances 
by which the covenant of grace was ad- 
ministered under the law, con. vii. 5. 
cat. 34. 

Patience. Patient bearing of the hand of 
God a duty, cat. 135. Patient bearing 
and forgiving of injuries a duty, ib. 

Peace of Conscience. See Conscience. 

Pedo-baptism. See Infants. 

Perseverance of saints. They whom God 
hath accepted in Christ can never totally 
or finally fall away from the estate of 
grace, con. xvii. 1. cat. 77, 79. Upon 
what their perseverance depends, con. 

xvii. 2. cat. 79. How far they may 
fall, con. vi. 5. xi. 5. xiii. 2. xvii. 3. 

xviii. 4. cat. 78. They are always kept 
from utter despair, con. xviii. 4. cat. 81. 
How they are recovered, con. xi. 5. 
xiii. 3. 

Persons in the Godhead, three, distin- 



guished by personal properties, con. ii. 

3. cat. 9, 10. The equality of the Per- 
sons proved, cat. 11. The personal 
union of the two natures in Christ, con. 
viii. 2. cat. 36, 37. By reason of this 
union, the proper works of each nature 
are accepted of God, and relied on by 
believers as the work of the whole Per- 
son, con. viii. 7. cat. 40. 

Physick to be used moderately, cat. 135. 

Pictures, lascivious, discharged, cat. 139. 

Polygamy unlawful, con. xxiv. 1. cat. 139. 

Pope, the, has no power or jurisdiction 
over civil magistrates, or their people, 
con. xxiii. 4. He is in no sense head 
of the church, but is Antichrist, con. 
xxv. 6. 

Powers ecclesiastical or civil, not to be 
opposed upon pretence of Christian li- 
berty, con. xx. 4. Power of the keys. 
See Keys. 

Praises to be joined with prayer, cat. 196. 

Praise, the, of any good we either are, have, 
or can do, not to be ascribed to fortune, 
ourselves, or any other creature, cat. 105. 

Prayer, what, cat. 178. The duty of all 
men, con. xxi. 3. To be made to God 
only, and why, con. xxi. 2. cat. 179. 
That it may be accepted, it is to be 
made in the name of Christ, by the help 
of the Spirit, con. xxi. 3. cat. 178. What 
it is to pray in the name of Christ, cat. 
180. Why prayer is to be made in his 
name, cat. 181. How the Spirit helps 
to pray, cat. 182. How prayer is to be 
made, con. xxi. 3. cat. 185. For what 
and for whom we are to pray, con. xxi. 

4. cat. 183, 184. Prayer not to be made 
for the dead, nor for those of whom it 
may be known that they have sinned 
the sin unto death, ib. Prayer, now 
under the gospel, is not made more ac- 
ceptable by any place in which it is per- 
formed, nor towards which it is directed, 
con. xxi. 6. The rule of prayer, cat. 
186. 

Lord's prayer, the, how to be used, cat. 187. 
It is explained in the Catechism from 
Question 188, to the end. 

Preaching of the word a part of the ordi- 
nary worship of God, con. xxi. 5. One 
of the ordinances in which the covenant 
of grace is administered under the New 
Testament, con. vii. 6. cat. 35. None 
are to preach the word but ministers of 
the gospel, cat. 1 58. How they are to 
preach, cat. 159. How the preaching 
of the word is made effectual to salva- 
tion, cat. 155. 

Predestination, con. iii. 3, 4. cat. 13. The 
doctrine of predestination how to be 
handled and used, con. iii. 8. 

2 E 



434 



THE TABLE. 



Preparation required to the hearing of the 
word, cat. 160. "What preparation re- 
quisite to the sabbath, cat. 117. What 
to the Lord's supper, cat. 171. 
Prescience. See Foreknowledge. 
Priestly office of Christ, cat. 44. 
Private worship in families daily a duty, 

con. xxi. 6 £ cat. 156. 
Privileges of the invisible church, and of 

the visible. See Church. 
Prodigality a sin, cat. 142. 
Profession, the, of the gospel is adorned by 
good works, con. xvi. 2. And ought to 
be attended with a conversation in holi- 
ness and righteousness, cat. 112, 167. 
Property in goods, etc. not infringed by 

the communion of saints, con. xxvi. 3. 
Prophecies. The covenant of grace ad- 
ministered by prophecies under the law, 
con. vii. 5. cat. 34. 
Prophetical office, the, of Christ, how exe- 
cuted, cat. 43. 
Propitiation. Christ's one only sacrifice 
the alone propitiation for all the sins 
of the elect, con. xxix. 2. 
Protestants should not marry with Papists, 

con. xxiv. 3. 
Providence, con. v. 1. cat. 18. Events are 
ordered according to the nature of se- 
cond causes, con. iii. 1. v. 2. God in 
his ordinary providence maketh use of 
means, yet is free to work without, 
above, and against them at his pleasure, 
con. v. 3. How providence is exercised 
about sin, con. v. 4. See Sin. The 
actual influence of the Holy Spirit is 
required to do good works, con. xvi. 3. 
God's providence towards angels, cat. 19. 
Toward man when created, cat. 20. Is 
in a special manner over his church, 
con. v. 7. cat. 43, 45, 63. 
Publick worship not to be neglected, con. 

xxi. 6. 
Punishment. See Sin. 
Purgatory, the scripture acknowledged 
no such place, con. xxxii. 1 . 

Q 

Quarrelling at God's decrees and provi- 
dences sinful, cat. 113. 

Quarrelling and provoking words sinful, 
cat. 136. 

Questions that are curious or unprofitable 
are to be avoided, cat. 113. 

R 

Reading the scriptures a part of religious 
worship, con. xxi. 5. How made effec- 
tual to salvation, cat. 155. The duty 
of all to read them apart by themselves, 
and with their families, con. i. 8. cat. 
156. How to be read, con. xxi. 5. cat. 
157. 



Rebellion a sin, cat. 128. 

Reconciliation with God purchased by 

Christ's sacrifice of himself, con. viii. 5. 

cat. 44. 

Recreations to be moderately used, cat. 
135, 136. But not on the Lord's day, 
con. xxi. 8. cat. 119. 
Redemption, how purchased by Christ, 
con. viii. 5. cat. 38, 39, 40. For all the 
elect, and them only, con. iii. 6. To 
whom it is certainly applied, con. viii. 
8. cat. 59. Although it was not actually 
wrought by Christ till after his incar- 
nation; yet the virtue, efficacy, and 
benefits of it were communicated to the 
elect in all ages successively from the 
beginning of the world, con. viii. 6. 
How it is applied to them, con. viii. 8. 
cat. 58, 59. 
Regeneration. See Effectual Calling. 

Regenerate, the, are all freely justified, con. 
xi. 1. See Justification. And sanctified, 
con. xiii. 1. See Sanctification. The cor- 
ruption of nature remains in them, and 
all the motions of it are sin, con. vi. 5. 
But it is pardoned and mortified through 
Christ, ib. The use of the moral law 
to them, con. xix. 6. cat. 97. 

Repentance, what, con. xv. 2. cat. 75. Al- 
though it be no satisfaction for sin, nor 
cause of pardon, yet no pardon without 
it, con. xv. 3. cat. 153. Nor condem- 
nation where it is, con. xv. 4, 6. It is 
every man's duty to endeavour to re- 
pent particularly of his particular sins, 
con. xv. 5. The doctrine of repentance 
to be preached by every minister, as 
well as that of faith in Christ, con. xv. 
1. To be declared to those that are 
offended, con. xv. 6. 

Resurrection of Christ, con. viii. 4. cat. 52. 
The effect of his own power, cat. 52. It 
is a proof of his being the Son of God, 
and of his satisfaction to divine justice, 
etc. ib. It is an assurance to believers 
of their resurrection, ib. They have 
fellowship with him in his resurrection, 
con. xxvi. 1. He rose again for their 
justification, con. xi. 4. cat. 52. And 
through the virtue of his death and re- 
surrection they are sanctified, con. xiii. 
1. cat. 75. They draw strength there 
for the mortifying of sin, and quicken- 
ing of grace, cat. 52, 167. 

Resurrection, the, of the dead, of the just 
and unjust, con. xxxii. 2, 3. cat. 87. 

Revelation. The divers ways of God's 
revealing his will, con. i. 1. 

Righteousness. Man was created righte- 
ous after the image of God, con. iv. 2. 
cat. 17 But by sin he fell from that 
original righteousness, con. vi. 2. cat. 



THE TABLE. 



436 



25. And since the fall no man can 
attain to righteousness by the moral 
law, cat. 94. Nor by having righteous- 
ness infused into them, con. xi. 1. cat. 
70. But those whom God effectually 
calleth, he accepteth and accounteth as 
righteous, by imputing the obedience 
and satisfaction of Christ to them, they 
receiving and resting on him and his 
righteousness by faith, ib. See Faith, 
Imputation, Justification. Why the 
righteous are not delivered from death, 
cat. 85. Their state immediately after 
death, con. xxxii. 1. cat. 86. At the 
resurrection and day of judgment, con. 
xxxii. 3. xxxiii. 2. cat. 87, 90. 

S 

Sabbath. By the law of nature, a due 
proportion of time ought to be set apart 
for the worship of God, con. xxi. 7. God 
hath in his word, by a positive and per- 
petual commandment, binding all men 
in all ages, appointed one day in seven 
for a sabbath, to be kept holy to him- 
self, con. xxi. 7. cat. 20, 116. The day 
observed under the Old and New Tes- 
tament dispensations, con. xxi. 7. cat. 
116. How the sabbath is to be sancti- 
fied, con. xxi. 8. cat. 117. How it is 
profaned, cat. 119. Why we are com- 
manded to remember it, cat. 121. It 
is a memorial of our creation and re- 
demption, which contains a short abridg- 
ment of religion, ib. What are the rea- 
sons annexed to the fourth command- 
ment, the more to enforce it, cat. 120. 
Why the charge of keeping the sabbath 
is directed to governors of families, and 
other superiors, cat. 118. 

Sacrament, a. The institution, nature, 
and ends of it, con. xxvii. 1. cat. 162. 
Its parts, con. xxvii. 2. cat. 163. Only 
two sacraments instituted by Christ, 
con. xxvii. 4. cat. 164. Which are only 
to be dispensed by ministers of the word 
lawfully ordained, con. xxvii. 4. How 
made effectual to salvation, con. xxvii. 
3. cat. 161. The sacraments of the 
Old Testament were the same for sub- 
stance with those of the New, con. xxvii. 
5. Wherein the sacraments of baptism 
and of the Lord's supper agree, cat. 176. 
Wherein they differ, cat. 177. 

Sacrifice. The covenant of grace was ad- 
ministered under the law by sacrifices, 
con. vii. 5. viii. 6. cat. 34. Which signi- 
fied Christ to come, ib. Who hath fully 
satisfied the justice of his Father, in his 
once offering himself a sacrifice without 
spot to God, con. viii. 5. cat. 44. There 
is no real sacrifice made for sin in the 



Lord's supper, con. xxix. 2. That sacra- 
ment being instituted for the perpetual 
remembrance of Christ's one only sacri- 
fice in his death, con. xxix. 1. cat. 168. 
To which the mass is most abominably 
injurious, con. xxix. 2. 

Saints. See Believers, Communion. Not to 
be worshipped, con. xxi. 2. cat. 105. 

Salvation, not to be attained by men who 
do not profess the Christian religion, be 
they never so diligent to live up to the 
light of nature, or the law of that reli- 
gion which they profess, con. x. 4. cat. 
60. There being no salvation but in 
Christ alone, ib. Who hath purchased 
it by his perfect obedience and sacri- 
fice of himself, con. viii. 5. cat. 83. For 
all the elect, and them only, con. iii. 6. 
To whom the outward means are made 
effectual for their salvation by the 
Spirit, con. vii. 5, 6. xxv. 3. cat.ldi, 155, 
161, 182. Who worketh in their hearts 
faith in Jesus Christ, con. xiv. 1. cat. 
72. Which is necessarily required of 
them for their justification and salva- 
tion, con. vii. 3. xi. 1. cat. 32, 71. The 
Spirit also worketh repentance, and in- 
fuseth all other saving graces, con. xiii. 

1. cat. 32, 75, 76, 77. Which accom- 
pany faith, con. xi. 2. cat. 73. Likewise 
enables them unto all obedience and 
the practice of holiness, which is the 
way that God hath appointed them to 
salvation, con. xiii. 1. cat. 32. Elect 
infants dying in infancy are regene- 
rated and saved by Christ through the 
Spirit, etc. con. x. 3. 

Sanctification, what, con. xiii. 1. cat. 75. 
Inseparably joined with justification, 
cat. 77. Wherein they differ, ib. It is 
throughout in the whole man, con. xiii. 

2. cat. 75. But in this life it is not 
perfect in any, con. xiii. 2. cat. 77. 
Whence this imperfection proceeds, con. 
xiii. 2. cat. 78. Through the continued 
supply of strength from the sanctifying 
Spirit of Christ, the saints grow in 
grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of 
God, con. xiii. 3. At death they are 
made perfect in holiness, con. xxxii. 1. 
cat. 86. And at the day of judgment 
they shall be fully and for ever freed 
from all sin, cat. 90. 

Satisfaction. Repentance is no satisfac- 
tion for sin, con. xv. 3. nor good works, 
and why, con. xvi. 5. Neither we nor 
any other creature can make the least 
satisfaction for sin, cat. 194. Christ 
alone hath made a proper, real, and 
full satisfaction to the justice of his 
Father by his obedience and sufferings, 
con. viii. 5. xi. 5. cat. 38, 71 Which 



436 



THE TABLE. 



satisfaction is imputed to believers, con. 
xi. 1. cat 70. 

Scandalous, not to be admitted to the 
Lord's table, con. xxix. 8. cat. 173. 

Scoffing and scorning sinful, cat. 113, 145. 

Scripture, the, why necessary, con. i. 1. 
What books to be owned for scripture, 
con. i. 2, 3. cat. 3. How proved to be 
the word of God, con. i. 5. cat. 4. Upon 
what authority the scripture ought to 
be believed and obeyed, con. i. 4. The 
sufficiency and perfection of the scrip- 
ture, con. i. 6. cat. 2, 5. Its perspicuity, 
con. i. 7. The infallible rule of inter- 
preting scripture is the scripture itself, 
con. i. 9. The scripture is the only rule 
of faith and practice, con. i. 2. cat. 3, 5. 
and of worship, con. xxi. 1. cat. 108, 109. 
The Spirit speaking in the scriptures is 
the supreme judge of all controversies 
on religion, con. i. 10. The original 
text of the scriptures is that to which 
the church is finally to appeal, con. i. 8. 
But they are to be translated into vul- 
gar languages, con. i. 8. cat. 156. Be- 
cause all sorts of people have an interest 
in them, and are commanded to read 
them, ib. How they are to be read, cat. 
157. The illumination of the Spirit 
necessary for the saving understanding 
of the scriptures, con. i. 6. cat. 157. 
How the reading of the word is made 
effectual to salvation, cat. 155. Misin- 
terpreting, misapplying, or any way 
perverting the word, or any part of it, 
sinful, cat. 113. 

Sin, what, cat. 24. Original sin, what, cat. 
25. The sin of our first parents, con. 
vi. 1. cat. 21. By it they fell from their 
original righteousness, and communion 
with God, and had their natures wholly 
corrupted, con. vi. 2. cat. 25, 27. The 
guilt of this sin is imputed, and the 
corruption of nature conveyed to all 
their posterity, con. vi. 3. cat. 22, 26. 
Who are thereby bound over to the 
wrath of God, and curse of the law, con. 
vi. 6. cat. 27, 194. From the original 
corruption of nature, all actual sins 
proceed, con. vi. 4. cat. 25. Which are 
not all equally heinous, cat. 150. The 
aggravations of sin, cat. 151. The de- 
merit of every sin, con. vi. 6. cat. 152. 
Punishments of sin in this world, con. v. 
5, 6. xvii. 3. xviii. 4. cat 28, 83. In 
the world to come, con. xxxii. 1. xxxiii. 
2. cat. 29, 86, 89. Sin is pardoned for 
Christ's sake alone, con. xi. 1. xv. 3. 
cat 70. See Justification, Sanctification. 
Every man bound to pray for pardon of 
sin, con. xv. 6. God continues to par- 
don the sins of those that are justified, 



con. xi. 5. How pardon of sin is to be 
prayed for, cat. 194. The sin unto 
death, con. xxi. 4. cat 183. Believers 
have the dominion of the whole body of 
sin destroyed, and the lusts thereof 
more and more weakened and mortified, 
con. vi. 5. xiii. 1. cat. 75. See Mortifica- 
tion, Sanctification. How providence is 
exercised about sin, con. v. 4. Why God 
permitted the sin of our first parents, 
con. vi. 1. Why he leaves his children 
to fall into sin, con. v. 5. Why and 
how sinners are hardened, con. v. 6. cat. 
68. 

Sins against the first commandment, cat 
105. Against the second, cat 109. 
Against the third, cat. 113. Against 
the fourth, cat. 119. Sins of inferiors, 
cat 128. Sins of superiors, cat. 130. 
Sins of equals, cat. 132. Sins against 
the sixth commandment, cat 136. 
Against the seventh, cat. 139. Against 
the eighth, cat. 142. Against the 
ninth, cat. 145. Against the tenth, cat. 
148. 

Sincerity. Believers love Christ in sin- 
cerity, con. xviii. 1. They are never 
utterly destitute of sincerity of heart, 
con. xviii. 4. Ministers ought to preach 
sincerely, cat. 159. We are to pray 
with sincerity, cat 185. God is pleased 
to accept and reward the good works of 
believers which are sincere, con. xvi. 6. 

Singing of psalms a part of religious wor- 
ship, con. xxi. 5. 

Slandering sinful, cat 145. 

Songs that are lascivious forbidden, cat. 
139. 

Soul, the, of man is immortal, con. iv. 2. 
cat. 17. The state of souls when se- 
parate from their bodies, con. xxxii. 1. 
cat. 86. 

Sovereignty. God hath most sovereign 
dominion over his creatures, con. ii. 2. 
The light of nature sheweth that God 
hath lordship and sovereignty over • all, 
con. xxi. 1. Eternal sovereignty to be 
ascribed to God alone, cat. 196. To pray 
with due apprehensions of his sovereign 
power, cat. 185, 189. 

Spirit. See Holy Ghost. 

Stage-plays forbidden, cat. 139. 

Stews not to be tolerated, cat. 139. 

Supererogation impossible, con. xvi. 4. 

Superiors, why stiled fathers and mothers, 
cat. 125. How to be honoured, con. 
xxiii. 4. cat. 127. Their duty, con. 
xxiii. 1, 2, 3. cat. 129. Their sins, cat. 
130. See Magistracy. 

Superstition. God may not be worshipped 
according to the imaginations and de- 
vices of men, con. xxi. 1. Religious wor- 



THE TABLE. 



437 



ship not instituted by God himself, is 
not to be used or approved, cat. 109. 
All superstitious devices, etc. sinful, cat. 
109, 113. 

Supper. See Lord's Supper. 

Surety. Christ the surety for believers, 
cat. 71. Thoroughly furnished to exe- 
cute that office, con. viii. 3. And God 
accepteth satisfaction from him, cat. 71. 

Suretiship, that is not necessary, is to be 
avoided, cat. 141. 

Suspension from the Lord's table, con. 
xxx. 4. 

Swearing. See Oaths. Vain or rash swear- 
ing by the name of God, or to swear at 
all by any other thing, is to be abhorred, 
con. xxii. 2. 

Synods. See Councils. 

T 

Tale-bearing, cat. 145. 

Temptation. Why God leaves his chil- 
dren to manifold temptations, con. v. 5. 
The wicked given up to the tempta- 
tions of the world, con. v. 6. Tempta- 
tions to sin are to be avoided and re- 
sisted, cat. 99. § 6, 135, 138. How 
temptation is to be prayed against, cat. 
195. 

Testament. The books of the Old and 
New Testament are the word of God, 
con. i. 2. cat. 3. And the only rule of 
faith and obedience, ib. See Scripture. 

Testament. Why the covenant of grace is 
called a Testament, con. vii. 4. As it 
was administered under the law, it is 
called the Old Testament, con. vii. 5. 
And as administered under the gospel, 
it is called the New Testament, con. vii. 
6. 

Thanksgiving to be joined with prayer, 
con. xxi. 3. cat. 108, 178. It is to be 
made in the name of Christ, con. xxi. 
3. Solemn thanksgiving a part of reli- 
gious worship, con. xxi. 5. 

Toleration. A false religion not to be 
tolerated, cat. 109. 

Tradition, no pretence for using supersti- 
tious devices in the worship of God, cat. 
109. No traditions of men to be added 
to the Scripture, con. i. 6. 

Transubstantiation is repugnant not only 
to scripture, but to common sense and 
reason, con. xxix. 6. And is the cause 
of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross 
idolatries, ib. 

The tree of life was a pledge of the cove- 
nant of works, cat. 20. 

The Trinity. See God, Persons. 

Truth between man and man, how pre- 
served and promoted, cat. 144. What 
things are contrary to it, cat. 145. 



V,Y 

Union of the elect with Christ, con. xxv. 
1. xxvi. 1. cat. 66. It is inseparable, 
cat. 79. Believers are united to one 
another in love, con. xxvi. 1. 

Union of the two natures in Christ. See 
Personal Union. 

Unregenerate, the use of the moral law to 
them, cat. 96. Their best works cannot 
please God, and why, con. xvi. 7. But 
their neglect to do what God commands 
is more sinful, ib. 

Vocation. See Calling. 

Vow, a part of religious worship, con, xxi. 
5. What it is, and how to be made, 
con. xxii. 5, 6. To be made to God 
alone, con. xxv. 6. cat. 108. "What vows 
are unlawful, con. xxii. 7. Violating 
of lawful vows, and fulfilling of unlaw- 
ful, is sinful, cat. 113. 

Usury unlawful, cat. 142. 

W 

War may be waged by Christians under 
the New Testament, con. xxiii. 2. 

Wicked, the. Their condition in this life, 
cat. 83 ; immediately after death, con. 
xxxii. 1. cat. 86; in and after judg- 
ment, con. xxxiii. 2. cat. 89. 

Will. The counsel of God's will is most 
wise and holy, con. iii. 1. cat. 12. It is 
unsearchable, con. iii. 7. cat. 13. It is 
free and immutable, con. v. 1. cat. 14; 
and most righteous, con. ii. 1. How the 
will of God is to be done and submitted 
to, cat. 192. The will of God, revealed 
in the scriptures, is the only rule of 
faith, worship, and practice. See Scrip- 
ture. Christ revealeth to his church, 
by his Spirit and word, the whole will 
of God in all things concerning their 
edification and salvation, cat. 43. 

Free- Will. The will of man is neither 
forced, nor by any absolute necessity of 
nature determined, to do good or evil, 
con. iii. 1. ix. 1. Man in his state of 
innocency had freedom and power to will 
and do good, con. iv. 2. ix. 2. cat. 17. By 
his fall he lost all ability of will to any 
spiritual good accompanying salvation, 
con. vi. 2, 4. ix. 3. cat. 25, 192. The 
will is renewed in conversion, con. ix. 
4. x. 1. cat. 67. It is made perfectly 
and immutably free to do good alone in 
the state of glory only, con. ix. 5. 

Word. See Scripture, Heading, Preaching, 
Hearing. 

Worldly-mindedness sinful, cat. 105, 142. 

Works. What are good works, and what 
not, con. xvi. 1. The fruits and evidences 
of a true and lively faith, con. xvi. 2. 
Their uses and ends, ib. Ability to do 



438 



THE TABLE. 



good works is wholly from the Spirit of 
Christ, con. xvi. 3. The actual in- 
fluence of the Spirit is required for 
their performance, ib. This no plea 
for negligence, ib. Supererogation im- 
possible, con. xvi. 4. We cannot by our 
best works merit pardon of sin or eter- 
nal life, and why, con. xvi. 5.- Yet the 
good works of believers are accepted by 
God in Christ, and rewarded, con. xvi. 

6. The works of unregenerate men 
cannot please God, and why, con. xvi. 

7. But to neglect to do what God 
commands is more sinful, ib. All per- 
sons shall, in the day of judgment, re- 
ceive according to what they have done 
in the body, whether good or evil, con. 
xxxiii. 1, 

"Worship. To God is due from his crea- 
tures, con. ii. 2. The light of nature 
sheweth that God is to be worshipped, 
con. xxi. 1. But the acceptable way of 
worshipping God is instituted by him- 
self in the scriptures, ib. He may not 
be worshipped according to the imagi- 
nations and devices of men, con. xxi. 1 . 



cat. 109. False worship is to be op- 
posed, cat. 108. As also any worship 
not instituted by God himself, cat. 109. 
But there are some circumstances con- 
cerning the worship of God which are 
to be ordered by the light of nature and 
Christian prudence, according to the 
general rules of the word, con. L 6. 
Eeligious worship is to be given to God 
the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and 
to him alone ; and that only in the me- 
diation of Christ, con. xxi. 2. cat. 179, 
181. The parts of religious worship, 
con. xxi. 3, 5. Eeligious worship not 
tied to any place, but God is to be wor- 
shipped every where in spirit and truth, 
as in private families daily, and in 
secret, each one by himself; so more 
solemnly in the publick assemblies, 
which are not to be neglected, con, xxi. 6. 
Wrath. See Curse. 

Z 

Zeal for God, a duty, cat. 104. 
Zeal, corrupt, blind, and indiscreet, sinful, 
cat. 105. 



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